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Pierre Gasly achieved one of the most surprising victories in the recent history of Formula One after a chaotic Grand Prix of Italy.
The Frenchman, who drives for Alpha Tauri, took the checkered flag at Monza just 0.4 seconds behind McLaren’s Carlos Sainz with Racing Point’s Lance Stroll completing an unpredictable podium.
Lewis Hamilton finished just seventh after he was forced to serve a 10-second stop-start penalty for stopping for tires when the pit lane was closed.
Hamilton, who so far appeared to be on track for his 90th career victory, described the decision as “bullshit.”
The best race of what has been a turgid season took a dramatic turn when the Safety Car deployed on lap 20 with Kevin Magnussen’s Haas parked in a dangerous position.
Hamilton had established an 11-second lead over the McLaren duo of Sainz and Lando Norris before pitting too early and facing the ire of the stewards.
Stroll was left out, moving him to second position, while an early stop from Gasly promoted him to third. The Frenchman had come tenth on the grid.
With Magnussen’s car retired, the race restarted on lap 24, but just over a minute later, Charles Leclerc crashed into one of the fastest corners on the calendar.
The Ferrari driver was halfway up the Parabolica when he veered into the barriers at speeds close to 180 mph.
Leclerc gasped in the big accident, but managed to get out of the cockpit.
“You’re good?” asked Ferrari’s pit wall. A breathless Leclerc replied: “Yes, it was a big crash.”
Red flags were displayed, cars entered the pit lane, and Hamilton appeared to be heading to the stewards’ office to protest his penalty.
A 27-minute delay followed with Stroll, who had not stopped, and was allowed to take fresh rubber.
But a bad break after the red flag period ruined the Canadian’s chances. In fact, it was Gasly, the 24-year-old, who had the best start moving to second place behind Hamilton.
The world champion then stopped to serve his penalty with Gasly assuming the lead.
Sainz led Gasly to the flag, with McLaren attempting to win his first race since 2012, but it was the French driver who prevailed to claim his first Grand Prix victory.
Gasly was crying when he crossed the line, screaming with joy after a memorable victory.
British driver Norris finished fourth ahead of Valtteri Bottas, only fifth after a poor start. Daniel Ricciardo was sixth for Renault ahead of Hamilton, who passed eight cars and claimed the fastest lap of the race after his penalty.
His closest title challenger, Max Verstappen, retired with a technical problem, while Sebastian Vettel also failed to make it to the finish after a brake failure.
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