Usually a Formula 1 driver who starts from pole position and tumbles down to seventh won’t be too happy with such an outcome, but that wasn’t the case for Pierre Gasly in Monza.
As much as Gasly dared to dream that circumstances might allow him at least make it to the podium, the Frenchman and his Alpine team knew that the numbers didn’t add up.
The A526 was superb over one lap on Saturday. However, it was always going to struggle to hold its own against Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari over a race distance.
The retirement of Charles Leclerc and a difficult race for Liam Lawson opened up a couple of spots among the top eight places, and that allowed the Frenchman to take a respectable P7, well clear of the rest of the usual midfield contenders.
The 2020 Italian Grand Prix winner also crossed the line on the tail of a Ferrari and only 27.3 seconds behind winner Kimi Antonelli.
“I mean, the part of me that is realistic is very satisfied,” said Gasly. “Basically, starting on pole, you must have a side of you which thinks, ‘Okay, what can happen over 53 laps, this and that?’ But I’ve got to be honest, before the race, we knew that with the pace in the race it would be extremely difficult to stay up there and fight with the top guys.
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