The Winners and Losers of the 2020 Italian Grand Prix

And breathe. The Italian Grand Prix was, without doubt, one of the most remarkable and tense races Formula 1 has ever seen. In such unpredictable sporting events, there are always winners – but also some losers. We pick them out…

Winner: Pierre Gasly

What a 12 months it has been for Pierre Gasly. Dropped in unceremonious fashion by Red Bull, and demoted to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri, the Frenchman’s career could have spiralled out of control.

But to his credit, he used the disappointed as motivation, driving better than he ever has and building up the mental strength that was a key pillar in helping him secure a sensational maiden Grand Prix victory.

He is the 109th driver to win a Grand Prix, the first new winner since Charles Leclerc triumphed at Spa in 2019 and the first Frenchman to claim victory since Olivier Panis took that shock victory at Monaco in 1996, 24 years ago.

A phenomenal performance from a star who is rising again.

French TV commentators go wild for Pierre Gasly's Monza win

Loser: Lewis Hamilton

This may have been Lewis Hamilton’s 41st consecutive points finish, but seventh was his worst result in Formula 1 since last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

He should have won the race at a canter, but a mistake which he and the team accepted collectively cost the reigning world champion a sixth win in seven races.

But even on a frustrating weekend, he still leaves Monza with a 47-point drivers’ championship lead over his next closest rival – the same margin with which he arrived in Italy. So it’s not so bad after all.

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 06: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP prepares to drive on — It wasn't meant to be for Hamilton

Winners: AlphaTauri

You have to go back 146 races to the 2013 Australian Grand Prix for the last time a team other than Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull stood on the top step. And it was AlphaTauri who broke that run – and on home soil to boot.

You’d be hard pressed to find a person in the F1 paddock who wasn’t happy for the little Italian team, with several drivers – including Daniel Ricciardo – and rival team personnel heading over to the team’s garage or hospitality to congratulate them.

This was their first win since 2008 – 12 years ago, and also at Monza – and second overall, moving them to within 14 points of their Italian rivals Ferrari in the constructors’ standings as we approach the halfway point.

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 06: Race winner Pierre Gasly of France and Scuderia AlphaTauri celebrates — The AlphaTauri team celebrate Gasly's win

Loser: Ferrari

This was a horrible weekend for Ferrari, so it’s unsurprising that Sebastian Vettel said on Sunday that it was a “blessing” the Italian fans weren’t allowed into Monza.

For the first time since 1995, both Ferraris failed to finish at the Temple of Speed, and it came after they failed to get either car into the top 10 in qualifying for the first time since 1984.

They are on a dire run of form, this their second consecutive non-scoring race, which sees them drop behind Renault to sixth in the constructors’ championship.

05 VETTEL Sebastian (ger), Scuderia Ferrari SF1000, brakes failure during the Formula 1 Gran Premio — This rather summed up Ferrari's race...

Winner: Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz wanted the win at Monza, so in the immediate aftermath, he was disappointed with second. But once the dust settled, he realised this was a mighty result – his best in Formula 1.

A second podium boosted his confidence after he failed to start the previous race, the Spaniard moving up into the top 10 in the drivers’ standings.

And if he continues this run of form, you suspect his time will come.

Carlos Sainz, McLaren and Race Winner Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri celebrate in Parc Ferme — Sainz overcame his disappointment at not winning the Italian Grand Prix

Loser: Valtteri Bottas

With team mate and title rival Hamilton dropping from first to last as the result of a stop-go penalty, this was Valtteri Bottas’ chance to make big gains in the championship hunt. He did not.

A bad start dropped him back down the field from the front row, and from there he struggled to make much progress back up the pack, ending a disappointing fifth.

He moved back to second in the drivers’ championship – but he will be disappointed to have not made a bigger dent in the deficit to Hamilton.

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 06: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren F1 Team MCL35 — Bottas spent much of the afternoon snarled up behind Norris

Winner: Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll has often been overshadowed by Racing Point team mate Sergio Perez, but he was the main man at Monza, a circuit he seems to have built a real affinity with.

The Canadian pulled of a string of impressive overtakes, made the most of a red flag which benefitted him by affording him a free pit stop, and while a bad getaway at the restart cost him a shot at victory, a podium – the second of his career after Baku 2017 – was still a fine reward.

Loser: Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen has become accustomed to starting third and finishing on the podium, but neither of those things happened at Monza.

A skittish car led to an uncharacteristic crash in practice. He could only manage the third row in qualifying and come race day, an engine issue prevented any recovery.

This was his first retirement since the season opener and a non-score dropped him to third in the drivers’ championship.

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 06: Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Racing Point RP20 Mercedes — It was a day of mixed fortunes for Verstappen and Stroll

Winner: Lando Norris

Lando Norris has been one of the stars of the season, first nailing his 15th consecutive top-10 race start at Monza, then following it up with his seventh points finish in eight races.

The Briton’s consistency has been ruthless this year, and his reward is a joint-fourth slot with Stroll in the drivers’ championship.

His fourth place also ensured McLaren had two cars in the top-four at Monza for the first time since 2011.

WATCH: Lando Norris praises 'awesome' McLaren after chaotic Italian GP

Loser: Kevin Magnussen

This has not been Kevin Magnussen’s season so far, and things didn’t get much better at Monza.

The Dane was pretty happy with the speed of the car, but was hit at the start, which caused front wing damage, and then suffered a power unit issue as he tried to recover.

That was his fourth retirement in eight races this season – putting him head of a league table no one wants to lead.

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 06: The car of Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Haas F1 is pushed back into — The Magnussen stoppage that launched an unlikely Pierre Gasly victory

Winners: Williams

Ahead of the race, Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams told me that while it wasn’t very aspirational, her main hope in her last race was that both cars saw the chequered flag such has their form dropped of late – and they managed it.

Nicholas Latifi benefitted from the red flag to run comfortably in the pack and just missed out on a point in 11th, while George Russell had an entertaining race-long battle with Romain Grosjean on his way to 14th.

The Williams family have expected much, much better, but it was still an encouraging note to sign off an incredibly successful 43-year stint in Formula 1.