[ad_1]
Publication date: September 7, 2020
Mercedes lost Sunday’s Italian GP to a penalty, but Toto Wolff wasn’t too upset because he feels that Formula 1 came out triumphant that day.
When the Italian Grand Prix was flipped by safety cars and penalties, AlphaTauri driver Pierrre Gasly emerged as the unlikely winner.
The Frenchman rose to the lead when Lewis Hamilton stopped to receive a 10-second stop-and-go penalty, punishment for entering the pits when the pitlane was closed.
Gasly made the most of his moment, racing to victory ahead of Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll.
2,730 days had passed since Formula 1 had last seen a winner from Red Bull, Ferrari and not Mercedes; 146 consecutive races.
Hamilton, who initially seemed on his way to a comfortable victory, finished seventh with Valtteri Bottas P5.
Wolff says that although Mercedes may have lost the race, Formula 1 was the big winner of the day.
He told Sky Germany: “It was a victory that we lost, but it was a victory for Formula One.
“It was great entertainment today and it was fantastic to see the young men fighting up front. Congratulations to Pierre and Alpha Tauri, they deserved the victory ”.
This is great. 👌 We always say celebrate each victory as if it were your last, because you don’t know when the next one will be.
These guys had to wait 4,371 days. But today will be a day when everyone @ AlphaTauriF1 I will never ever forget. pic.twitter.com/Z4SvUDhknc
– Mercedes-AMG F1 (@ MercedesAMGF1) September 6, 2020
Get the official Mercedes 2020 collection through the Formula 1 store
Sunday’s podium was perhaps a glimpse into the future of Formula 1, as Sainz, who will leave for Ferrari next season, was the oldest of the three on the podium at 26.
Mercedes’ motorsports boss added to Channel 4: “I think it’s very refreshing to see those guys up there.
“They fought to the end and they deserve it.
“AlphaTauri and Pierre Gasly… the team has a good history at Monza, they won the race with Sebastian Vettel before.
“They were very fast in qualifying. And there is no mistaking the other two guys. Lance with his second podium and Carlos, a great pilot, Niki [Lauda] he would have taken off his hat. “
Despite failing to make the podium on Sunday, Mercedes extended their lead in the Constructors’ Championship to 281 points.
Red Bull, which did not score a single point, is just 158 with McLaren up to 98 ahead of Racing Point and Renault.
Follow us on twitter @ Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.
[ad_2]
