Gasly wins at Monza and becomes the first French winner in F1 since 1!

The wait lasted 24 long years. When Olivier Panis won at the wheel of his Ligier-Mugen-Honda in a completely crazy 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly was barely 3 months old.

The Norman has just entered the history of F1 and the legend of French motorsport. Through the big door. Of course, it took incredible racing circumstances for the Alpha Tauri driver to win the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. Italy, his adopted home where he recently took up residence. But it was the Marseillaise that resonated above the Autodromo di Monza this Sunday, September 6.

Fast all weekend, Gasly had to settle for 10th fastest time in qualifying but the Frenchman did not shy away from his pleasure at having once again reached Q3. Forced to start on soft tires, he was in the same position at the start of the race when the abandonment of Kevin Magnussen (Haas) on the 19th lap changed everything.

While Gasly was trapped by the Safety Car in Belgium last week, this time he judged the move perfectly. He rushed into the pit lane just before the Safety Car intervened... And the pit lane closed because the Dane's Haas was located not far from the pit entrance.

Lewis Hamilton, who was leading from pole position, and his team Mercedes were trapped. Believing they were making a free stop, they changed tires. Without having seen that the pit lane was closed. A rare error in the Brackley clan which would result in a Stop-and-go penalty.

When the pit lane was open again, the majority of the field rushed in voraciously and Gasly was able to move up to 3rd row, behind Hamilton, who was soon sanctioned, and Lance stroll, who had not stopped, and in front Charles Leclerc, who had observed his stop on the 18th lap.

Barely had the race restarted when the Monegasque crashed his Ferrari at full speed outside the Parabolica. More fear than harm for Leclerc but his violent exit from the track resulted in a red flag for half an hour.

The sporting regulations authorizing the change of tires during a neutralization, Stroll took the opportunity to change to new tires. Gasly imitated him by swapping his hard ones for better suited medium ones.

At 16:20 p.m., the drivers returned to the track for a formation lap and a new start. This is where Gasly, 3rd on the grid, seized his chance. Author of a better start than Stroll in 2nd position, he eclipsed the Racing Point to nestle in Hamilton's exhausts.

The leader stopped a lap later to observe his penalty, propelling Gasly into the lead. We were on the 29th lap. There were 24 left to become legendary.

In his quest for national happiness, Gasly was able to count on the Alfa Romeo, which slowed down a little McLaren an Carlos Sainz very fast. The Spaniard popped the Kimi Räikkönen stopper cleanly, while Antonio Giovinazzi, who had stopped when the pit lane was closed, also suffered a stop-and-go.

Then began a thrilling chase between the former Formula teammates Renault 3.5 in 2014. With a lead of more than 4 seconds, Gasly resisted until the end to only keep 4 tenths on the line. The threshold that allows him to enter the circle of Grand Prix winners. For eternity.

Valorous throughout, Sainz signs a superb podium but the future Ferrari driver will inevitably be disappointed to miss his first career victory in the land of fans. Stroll hangs on to 1rd place with his Racing Point, his 3nd GP podium after Baku in 2.

Lando Norris finished 4th, ahead of a disappointing Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), author of a messy start and never really in the rhythm.

Solid group shot from Renault with Daniel Ricciardo et Esteban Ocon 6th and 8th. Hamilton made a good comeback to 7th place. Daniil Kvyat (Alpha Tauri) and Sergio Pérez (Racing Point) complete the Top 10.

But this Sunday September 6 belonged to only one man: Pierre Gasly. France has a new winner in the Men's and Women's Grand Prix. Damn it’s good!!!

Find the analysis of Pierre Gasly's victory at the Italian GP by our special correspondent in issue 2277 of AUTOhebdo, on sale Monday evening digitally and Wednesday on newsstands.