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Monza / Munich – It took Pierre Gasly a moment to realize what a blow he had landed a few minutes earlier.
The French Formula 1 driver applauded the mechanics after the race, but then he got away and leapt into the air and cheered. As the first Frenchman since 1996, Oliver Panis in Monaco won a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
And that in the lower Alpha Tauri. The only victory for Franz Tost’s team to date was in 2008 when one Sebastian Vettel triumphed in the rain at Monza.
This time the sky over the Royal Park of Monza was not filled with rain clouds, but the sun was shining.
But a wild racing circuit, which would have given him a generous penny at a reliable betting provider, put Gasly in a position to make the dream come true. Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was also involved in the Frenchman’s coup.
Hamilton gets a fine – Lucky Gasly
The Dane had technical problems and parked his car on the edge of the track just before the pit entrance; the security car had to deploy. Leader Lewis Hamilton used this for a pit stop, but the pit lane was closed at this point due to Magnussen’s car.
Hamilton received a ten second penalty and the race was over for him.
Unlike the British, Gasly was already in the pits shortly before. His supposed disadvantage turned out to be an advantage later on. Also because the 24-year-old, unlike Lance Stroll, kept his nerves on the restart. While the Canadian lost numerous places with a brash demeanor and “only” came third at the end, Gasly drove relatively calmly to the top.
In a heated final phase, the Alpha Tauri driver defended his lead against Carlos Sainz and drove sensationally first across the finish line. “Oh my gosh guys,” he yelled into the pit radio afterward. He later explained: “The team did a lot for me. They gave me my first chance in Formula 1, they gave me my first podium. And now they give me my first victory. That’s crazy. Just crazy.” I’m so happy.”
Turbulent 18 months for Gasly
There should have been some satisfaction in Gasly too, after all, the last 18 months have been the most turbulent of his life so far. In 2019 he joined Toro Rosso’s Red Bull team, but was demoted back to the younger brother team over the summer break because he was clearly inferior to Max Verstappen.
The result was an exchange with Alex Albon, whose place Gasly has held at Toro Rosso since the Belgian Grand Prix. There he lived what was probably the worst moment of his life in August of last year. His friend Anthoine Hubert had a fatal accident in Formula 2 since childhood. When Gasly finished second in Brazil a few weeks later, he dedicated this result to his late friend.
Last weekend marked the one-year anniversary of Hubert’s fatal accident and Gasly finished eighth at Spa. After crossing the finish line, he greeted Hubert: “I hope Anthoine enjoyed it as much as I did.” A touching gesture.
“I had to fight for everything in my life”
But now in Monza came Gasly’s temporary coronation. It was clear to him: “If I don’t win this race, I will be incredibly sad. I wouldn’t even have been happy for second place.”
His path to his first victory in Formula 1 was like a roller coaster ride. “I’m not someone who gives up. I always had to fight for everything in my life. I still do today. My determination to be better and stronger is huge. When I was in office, I knew what I wanted.” Gasly explained his impressive determination, which made him a sensation.
Gasly will also not take the second row voluntarily. Even a return exchange with Albon, which is not at all convincing, suddenly seems possible.
But first of all, Gasly will definitely do a few more jumps and enjoy the culmination of his 18-month roller coaster ride in all areas. Because the 24-year-old has already experienced first-hand how quickly it can all end.
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