News summary
- Pierre Gasly expects Monza to expose the limitations of F1’s 2026 regulations, with lower speeds than traditionally seen at the Italian circuit.
- The Alpine driver says the difference between qualifying and the race will be significant because energy deployment will have to be managed much more carefully during the Grand Prix.
- Gasly, who won his maiden F1 race at Monza in 2020, believes the circuit could encourage F1 to change direction with future regulations because it is “losing some of its charm.”
Pierre Gasly does not expect the Temple of Speed to live up to its traditional name at this weekend’s Italian GP. The Alpine driver believes the characteristics of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations will become particularly evident at Monza, where the cars are expected to reach lower speeds than in previous years.
Gasly has a special connection with the Italian circuit. In 2020, driving for AlphaTauri, he claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory at Monza, becoming the first French driver to win a Grand Prix since Olivier Panis in 1996.
Speaking to French publication AUTOhebdo, Gasly explained that the difference between qualifying and the race could be substantial because of the way electrical energy is deployed.
In qualifying, drivers can start a lap with a full battery and use that energy throughout the entire circuit. During the race, however, they must adopt a more sustainable approach because the amount of energy recovered by the car will not be enough to maintain the same level of deployment lap after lap.
“It won’t be the same between qualifying and the race. In qualifying, we can start with a full battery and use it up during the entire lap. So that already allows us to have more energy overall for the lap,” Gasly said.
“Which still isn’t enough… In the race, however, it’s true that it’s going to be a problem because we have to drive sustainably. That means you can’t use as much energy. You recharge as much or even a little more, but you can’t use as much.”
“That means that halfway down the straight, we’re out of battery, out of electrical power. Which means we have half the power, so it definitely limits our speed quite quickly.”
The issue could be particularly noticeable at Monza because the circuit is made up of long straights separated by heavy braking zones. Gasly expects drivers to have to make strategic decisions about where they deploy their available electrical energy, potentially creating a different type of racing.
The Alpine driver believes the effect could make energy management a central element of overtaking, with drivers potentially sacrificing speed in one section of the lap to preserve enough electrical power for another.
Gasly’s concerns are particularly striking given his history at Monza. His 2020 victory came in a race in which he started 10th and held off Carlos Sainz after a red flag and Lewis Hamilton’s penalty dramatically changed the order.
The Frenchman, however, stressed that his criticism is not simply a complaint about the current rules. Instead, he believes Monza could provide F1 with valuable evidence about where the regulations need to go next.
“I’m not here to bite the hand that feeds me. I simply think that today’s track layout will reveal the limitations of these regulations,” Gasly said.
“We’re all aware of it, we all know it, and it’s almost something that will encourage F1 to go in a different direction to improve future seasons.”
“Because it’s true that we’re losing some of the charm. Monza is the Temple of Speed, but unfortunately, we’re going to have slightly reduced speeds.”
For a driver who experienced one of the defining moments of his career at Monza, the contrast could hardly be clearer. Gasly returns to the circuit where he became a Grand Prix winner expecting the 2026 cars to demonstrate just how different Formula 1’s current technical philosophy can be.
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues this weekend at Monza, with the Italian GP taking place from September 4-6. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the 13th round of the championship.
Pierre Gasly celebrates his maiden F1 victory at Monza in 2020 (Photo: Formula 1)
FAQ
When did Pierre Gasly win the Italian GP?
Gasly won the 2020 Italian GP with AlphaTauri, securing his maiden Formula 1 victory and becoming the first French Grand Prix winner since Olivier Panis in 1996.
Why does Gasly expect a major difference between qualifying and the race?
In qualifying, drivers can begin the lap with a fully charged battery and deploy the available electrical energy throughout the lap. In the race, energy consumption must be managed more carefully because the car cannot recover enough energy to sustain the same level of deployment.
Why does Gasly say Monza is “losing some of its charm”?
Monza is traditionally known as the “Temple of Speed,” but Gasly expects the 2026 cars to reach lower speeds because of the limitations imposed by the current power-unit regulations.
