F1 | Italian GP | Gasly ‘’not realising what’s happening’’ as he reacts to maiden victory
After an emotional 12 months when he got dropped by Red Bull and lost his friend Anthoine Hubert, Pierre Gasly has become a Grand Prix winner.
Following a nightmare spell at Red Bull, Pierre Gasly has bounced back in the best possible way at AlphaTauri – and today he became the 109th different driver to win a Formula 1 race.
The Frenchmen found himself in 3rd following the Safety Car period and subsequent red flag thanks to pitting before all the chaos and controversy ensued.
A great second standing start put him ahead of Stroll and soon took the lead when Hamilton served his penalty. He held his nerve as Carlos Sainz applied massive pressure in the last couple of laps to take one of the most unexpected victories in Formula 1 history by 0.4s.
Gasly seemed as stunned as everyone else when he spoke to Jenson Button moments after his victory.
"Honestly, it's unbelievable. I’m not realising what’s happening right now. It was such a crazy race. We capitalised on the red flag. The car was fast, we had a pretty fast car behind us.
"I've been through so much in the space of 18 months. My first podium last year, I was already like ‘wow’ with AlphaTauri, and now my first win in Monza. I'm struggling to realise [it].
Gasly paid tribute to AlphaTauri and Honda following this historic Grand Prix. The Italian team gave his first opportunity in F1 back three years ago when they were Scuderia Toro Rosso.
"I have got no words. This team have done so much for me. They gave me my first opportunity in F1, they gave me my first podium. Now they are giving me my first win.
"It's crazy, honestly. It's just crazy. I'm so happy. I can't thank them enough, everybody from AlphaTauri to Honda.
"It's a power-sensitive track and we won the race out of all the Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault cars, so just an amazing day."
Gasly’s win was the first for a French driver since Olivier Panis at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix. When it was mentioned to him, he said it was something that needed to change.
"I've always said coming in F1 that's one thing we need to change, because it's been so long [since a French driver won].
"I never expected that it would happen to us with AlphaTauri. We just kept focusing on ourselves since last year, working improving step by step.
"It's crazy, honestly. I'm just so happy."
Feel that emotion ❤️ @F1 has a NEW race winner! 🙌 #FullGAS ⛽️ @PierreGASLY pic.twitter.com/7samoQJdyK
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) September 6, 2020
