Pierre Gasly's celebration in Monaco: "It's my way of expressing that moment."

Pierre Gasly spoke in Barcelona about the penalties that cost him his podium finish in Monaco. The driver Alpine He confided in us about that moment of celebration on the cool-down lap, which was misinterpreted by some, during which he was well aware of his situation.

He chose his words carefully, and for good reason. Thursday in Barcelona, Pierre Gasly declined to comment in detail on the ongoing review process before the decision is made. "My answer today, at this moment, or tomorrow depending on what happens, may be different. So I prefer to wait and give a truthful answer." the Norman replied to the media present on site, including AUTOhebdo.

But regarding what he has felt since Sunday night, the pilot Alpine He didn't need to wait any longer to be direct: "Of all my Grand Prix in F1"That's very clearly the hardest and saddest. I don't think any situation has ever made me more unhappy or more angry. It truly experienced every possible emotion."

As a reminder, theAlpine The French driver's number 10 had crossed the finish line in third position in Monaco before receiving two five-second penalties for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane by 0,1 and 0,4 km/h respectively — tiny margins which, combined, relegated him to seventh place. "We start in P9, I manage to overtake" NorrisI kept him behind me for 30 laps. I managed to take the right risks at the start to overtake Isack in the second corner. We had a race that deserved better than that., he regrets.

A remarkable deceleration lap

Incredible images of Pierre Gasly 😔

The Frenchman, already aware of his penalty, showed his frustration by ironically "celebrating" this 3rd place finish achieved on the track 🇫🇷#MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Ww7QanQghi

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) June 7, 2026

The most poignant part of his statements concerns that moment witnessed by millions of viewers: Pierre Gasly celebrating on his cool-down lap, raising his fist, seemingly savoring a podium finish he thought he had already secured. Some interpreted it as naivety, even recklessness. The Frenchman sees something else entirely—something far more difficult to explain, given his current situation. "There are far too many emotions, far too much adrenaline, far too many feelings at that moment. I don't know if it can really be summarized. I think it's my way of externalizing that moment in relation to everything I'm feeling."

What he describes next says everything about the trajectory of a driver who waited ten years to relive such a moment in such a race. “I don’t think there’s been a single moment in my life where so many things go through my mind, both good and bad. I’m very proud and very happy with the performance at a Grand Prix that, since I was a little boy, is perhaps the most iconic, even more so as a Frenchman. I’ve been fighting for ten years to experience things like this, and when I do a good job, it’s clearly more than difficult to explain.”

A podium finish in Monaco, as a Frenchman, after a flawless race from ninth place — the kind of moment that doesn't come around every weekend with a Alpinenor even every five years. And even if the review procedure were to officially restore his third place, he himself admits without hesitation: the Monaco podium, for him, will not return.

Interview by Jean-Michel Desnoues, in Barcelona.

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