Gasly ran a lonely race to fourth, finishing a lap𒆙 behind rꦰace winner Max Verstappen.

The Frenchman starred in qualifying afte🌃r beating both Ferrari drivers and he maintained that advantage on race day.

“P4 for us is a small win, for AlphaTauri,” he said. “Finishing in front of both Ferraris, both McLarens and right behind the three cars of the top teams. It’s been a fant𒈔astic performance, strong qualifying, very good start, very good pace through all the race and a perfect weekend for us.

“The last ten laps were a bit long. Whole middle part of the race was all about managing Charles behind and the gap. Team was really worried with the tyres so asked me to slow down the entire time which was a bit annoying. But I told them ‘okay just do my thing and then we'll be fine’, and in the end it was fine. It was just very enjoyable to be in that position to have the performance to just push when I wanted and exactly do what I want🍷ed inside the car.

“So a lot of positives to take from t𝄹his weekend and it's exciti⛦ng for all the races until the end of the year.”

Gasly’s main highlight of the race came🌼 when battling two-time champion Fernan❀do Alonso.

He♍ pulled off a spectacul💦ar pass around the outside of Turn 1.

ไReflecting on the move, Gasly says he wanted to “surprise” Al💜onso.

“At the same time I knew Fernando fighting us in the championship will make my life quite hard,” Gasly explained. “But the previous lap I was so strong into turn one, I saw I gained so much time and almost tried something without really wanting to do it and that next lap I was really far, just sort of sur꧒prised him. I don't think he expected me to go around the outside there.

“So I just thought okay, I'll give it a shot, try to surprise [him] and yeah, I think it was ඣa nice one. I really enjoyed it and I don't think he exꦰpected me to go there.”

Gasly was then asked if he’d have done the same move on a less ex♔perienced driver, where he replied: “I think it would have done the same. But even on Fernando, he’s a tough one to fight and I could not come with just a normal overtake and just go on the inside beca✅use he would have defended.

“So I tꦓhink that was a nice move and it allowed me to get some free air after that and open the gap on Charles so it was importa🔴nt to make it up.”