Monza for Gasly is always the track of the first time
Pierre Gasly can’t stop smiling as he enters the press conference, understandably happy to have finally secured his first pole position in Formula 1 right on the Monza track, where he had his first and so far only victory in 2020 at the wheel of the then named Alpha Tauri (today Racing Bulls) in a deserted Autodrome due to the Covid pandemic. Today, the stands were full of spectators applauding his achievement, and this certainly gave a whole different flavor to his feat.
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From his words, it is clear that Alpine does not think they have achieved everything possible yet, and for tomorrow, nice surprises are not excluded for the French team
“I am full of emotions and happy for the team. It doesn’t happen every day to have a pole position car, and my pole lap was a super lap. My first thought after crossing the finish line was that a long time had passed since my last one, which was in F2, and I started shouting with joy on the radio saying incomprehensible things. After my first victory at Monza in 2020, it is special that here, after so many years, comes my first pole. I really gave everything.”
A pole resulting from the car and not from magic
Today’s result, according to Pierre, is not the result of magic but of a significant improvement of the Mercedes-powered A526, which here was able to express its full potential after the updates already brought in the Netherlands:
“There is not a single reason that justifies this performance. We found some changes to make to the car after the free practice that worked great, and already in Q1 we realized we could do well. Anyway, already in Zandvoort the package of changes brought to the car had started to improve performance. But the credit for today’s pole also goes to the team that executed perfectly and always put me in the best position with a very balanced car.”
There are still some negative thoughts regarding the FIA Appeal Tribunal’s decision, which arrived yesterday in the paddock, to take away his third place obtained in Monaco, which is still generating many controversies within Alpine, especially towards McLaren. But Pierre believes in the possibility of a worry-free victory tomorrow:
“This weekend we have already had many emotions, some negative, but I tried to focus on qualifying and we got the best possible result. Tomorrow will be a long race but we have the pace to do well and I will give everything to win.”
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