Gasly accused Magnussen of pushing him off the track and compared the Haas driver’s escape from any punishment with the reprimands Max Verstappen received for two embarrassing incidents in qualifying.
These verdicts surprised drivers and teams, accustomed to seeing grid penalties for such infractions, and raised questions about the consistency of the stewards’ decisions.
Gasly, who faced a series of sanctions in 2022 and was at one point close to receiving a racing ban, has questioned the decisions of stewards in the past.
“I just asked him if he could push someone off the track when I pass him, I’ll give him a little push and do the same,” he said of his fight with Magnussen. “I’m not going to open up the subject, it’s just making it black and white.
“I was quite surprised [after qualifying] and again on Sunday. I don’t really understand the rules. I’ve read the rules, I know them, but that doesn’t always translate into what happens on the track.
“But to be honest, it didn’t change my race. I made the most of it, so it was good, but many times it’s just unfair to me.
He added: “Maybe that’s my way of seeing things, I don’t know. I will have a discussion [with the FIA] because for me, it’s just that I don’t completely understand.
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-23, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A523
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“I’m not going to question it further etc, but I’ve had some tough decisions against me, with a six place penalty at Barcelona this year for interference, and that was certainly a lot less than what I saw it yesterday. Maybe now it’s allowed. I don’t know, I’ll ask.
Regarding Magnussen’s spirited driving, he noted: “He said it before the race, I think he said ‘I’m not going to make life easy for anyone,’ and it’s clear he took his words as they were.
“I knew he was going to go to the limit. It was once or twice slightly overshot but in the end I finished P6 so I don’t care.
Despite his concerns about the stewards’ decision-making, Gasly was pleased with Alpine’s recovery on track after a torrid Italian Grand Prix, even if a gearbox failure cost Esteban Ocon valuable points.
“We had such a difficult Monza,” he said. “We knew why, we knew the track layout didn’t favor us, but it was important to get some kind of performance and prove it to ourselves. So this is what happened.
“I think both cars should have been sixth and seventh, it’s a shame for Esteban and losing a car and some important points. But it is certain that on Sunday we have the potential to be there, and that was positive.
Gasly accused Magnussen of pushing him off the track and compared the Haas driver’s escape from any punishment with the reprimands Max Verstappen received for two embarrassing incidents in qualifying.
These verdicts surprised drivers and teams, accustomed to seeing grid penalties for such infractions, and raised questions about the consistency of the stewards’ decisions.
Gasly, who faced a series of sanctions in 2022 and was at one point close to receiving a racing ban, has questioned the decisions of stewards in the past.
“I just asked him if he could push someone off the track when I pass him, I’ll give him a little push and do the same,” he said of his fight with Magnussen. “I’m not going to open up the subject, it’s just making it black and white.
“I was quite surprised [after qualifying] and again on Sunday. I don’t really understand the rules. I’ve read the rules, I know them, but that doesn’t always translate into what happens on the track.
“But to be honest, it didn’t change my race. I made the most of it, so it was good, but many times it’s just unfair to me.
He added: “Maybe that’s my way of seeing things, I don’t know. I will have a discussion [with the FIA] because for me, it’s just that I don’t completely understand.
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-23, Pierre Gasly, Alpine A523
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“I’m not going to question it further etc, but I’ve had some tough decisions against me, with a six place penalty at Barcelona this year for interference, and that was certainly a lot less than what I saw it yesterday. Maybe now it’s allowed. I don’t know, I’ll ask.
Regarding Magnussen’s spirited driving, he noted: “He said it before the race, I think he said ‘I’m not going to make life easy for anyone,’ and it’s clear he took his words as they were.
“I knew he was going to go to the limit. It was once or twice slightly overshot but in the end I finished P6 so I don’t care.
Despite his concerns about the stewards’ decision-making, Gasly was pleased with Alpine’s recovery on track after a torrid Italian Grand Prix, even if a gearbox failure cost Esteban Ocon valuable points.
“We had such a difficult Monza,” he said. “We knew why, we knew the track layout didn’t favor us, but it was important to get some kind of performance and prove it to ourselves. So this is what happened.
“I think both cars should have been sixth and seventh, it’s a shame for Esteban and losing a car and some important points. But it is certain that on Sunday we have the potential to be there, and that was positive.
