Beaten by Pierre Gasly at chess a few minutes before qualifying, George Russell thought he would get his revenge on track. The Frenchman decided otherwise.
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Pierre Gasly definitely had a perfect Saturday at Monza. Only fifteen minutes before clinching the first pole position of his Formula 1 career, the Frenchman had already claimed a first victory against George Russell… around a chessboard.
The two drivers had played a friendly game shortly before the start of qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. Gasly had won, but Russell was then convinced that he would soon have the chance to get his revenge once settled in his Mercedes.
A few tens of minutes later, the Briton discovered that the Alpine driver apparently had no intention of letting him win, whatever the terrain.
“I thought I would beat him in qualifying”
Russell humorously recounted this surprising anecdote after failing to secure second place in qualifying.
“First of all, congratulations to Pierre because it’s an incredible performance,” began the Mercedes driver.
Then the Briton revealed that the two men had faced off a few minutes earlier.
“We were actually finishing a game of chess about fifteen minutes before qualifying and he beat me.”
At that moment, Russell still thought he could quickly even the score.
“I said to myself: ‘Well, I think I’m going to beat you in qualifying.’ And here we are: he’s still ahead of me !”
A prediction that therefore spectacularly backfired on him.
Gasly creates the huge surprise at Monza
On the track, the duel was obviously much closer than around the chessboard. Gasly posted an impressive 1’21″786 to beat Russell by only eight hundredths.
However, the Frenchman had already shown in Q1 that he would be a contender. Alpine proved extremely competitive throughout the session and Gasly knew how to seize every opportunity until his final attempt.
“Congratulations to him. Obviously, I’m disappointed not to have taken pole position,” admitted Russell.
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The Briton nevertheless seemed ideally placed to win. Mercedes had shown a particularly strong pace at Monza and Kimi Antonelli, condemned to start from the back due to his engine penalty, had even given his slipstream to his teammate in Q3.
A difficult last lap for Russell
Russell believes his final attempt was not perfectly executed.
“It was a bit messy with Verstappen starting his lap. I did my lap very close to him,” he explained.
The Mercedes driver still managed to improve his time. For a few moments, this performance even seemed enough to give him first place.
However, Gasly found the few extra hundredths needed to snatch pole in the final moments.
Russell refuses, however, to reduce the Frenchman’s result to a matter of luck. Alpine had already demonstrated its potential well before Q3.
“Pierre and Alpine were extremely fast from Q1. I’m therefore happy to see them get a good result.”
A historic first for Gasly
This symbolic victory over Russell takes on a historic dimension for Gasly. After nine years of waiting, the Frenchman finally clinches the first pole position of his Formula 1 career.
He also gives Alpine its first pole since the team has competed under this identity. And the symbol is even stronger since Gasly achieves this feat at Monza, the circuit where he won his only Grand Prix in 2020.
The Frenchman also becomes the first French driver to sign a pole position in Formula 1 since Jean Alesi, also at the Italian circuit, 29 years earlier.
For Russell, second place inevitably leaves some regrets, but the Briton preferred to salute his opponent’s performance rather than look for excuses.
One thing is certain: the next time George Russell faces Pierre Gasly at chess a few minutes before qualifying, he will probably think twice before predicting he will get his revenge on the track.
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