Gasly set for pit lane start as AlphaTauri change key parts ahead of Italian GP

AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly will start Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix from the pit lane, after his team opted to complete a full power unit change – including one component that was of a different specification – and fit a fresh gearbox ahead of the race…

Gasly was destined to start the race from the back of the grid, having sustained front wing damage from minor contact with Daniel Ricciardo at the start of the F1 Sprint that ultimately pitched him into the barriers (as you can see above).

AlphaTauri fitted a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K, control electronics and energy store. As the energy store was a different specification, believed to be an upgraded part, the rules dictate he must start from the pit lane.

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While frustrating, considering he had started sixth on for the Sprint with a package that looks strong, last year’s race winner remains optimistic.

“This is a track where there will be a lot of things happening,” he said on the drivers’ parade truck, just hours before the start of the race. “We’ll try everything out there to get back in the points.”

His team mate Yuki Tsunoda, who like Gasly was announced as an AlphaTauri driver for 2022 in the build up to Monza, will start 15th.

READ MORE: Gasly disappointed to see ‘great shot’ vanish as he crashes out of Sprint on Lap 1 after super start