Gasly was not given anything: "I always had to fight for everything"

His sensational win at Monza put Pierre Gasly on a real roller coaster; TV, radio, interviews and receiving countless congratulations followed each other in rapid succession. In an extensive interview the Frenchman looks back on these turbulent times.

From the moment the AlphaTauri driver crossed the finish line, he didn't really have a moment's rest. "I honestly didn't have a second to really sit down and realise what had actually happened. It's been such a crazy time," Gasly told RaceFans.net. His win at Monza was his team's second win, then as Toro Rosso at Monza in 2008 by Sebastian Vettel. Moreover, Gasly is the first French Grand Prix winner since Olivier Panis (Monaco 1996).

Special congratulations

Gasly was inundated with congratulations, including many of his rivals, but one congratulation is closest to his heart. "They said, 'listen to your voicemail, because there is probably a message you don't want to miss'." It was Emmanuel Macron, the French President, to congratulate him on his great victory. "He said he was really proud of me and the whole country was really proud of me after such a long wait for the whole of France. They were moving words and it made me realise that something great had happened in my life that day when the President called me. It was a very special moment."

Restoring confidence

Gasly's victory comes after a turbulent and difficult time for the Frenchman. Not only was he prematurely transferred back to Toro Rosso after his promotion to Red Bull, but his childhood friend Anthoine Hubert also died during the Grand Prix weekend at Spa Francorchamps.

He attributes his ability to recover to the fighting spirit he has had since his childhood. "Nothing was given to me just like that. I always had to fight for everything I wanted in my career and my life. I think it's a mentality I got from my brothers. It really helped me." Gasly kept working hard. "I thought, 'All right, concentrate on yourself,' concentrate on making the best of it with the team and of my relationship with them. And race by race we got better and better."