Pierre Gasly admits he was "struggling to realise" his maiden Formula 1 win after a crazy Italian Grand Prix.
The Frenchman benefited from stopping before the Safety Car to move up to third, and then passed Lance Stroll at the second standing start to inherit the lead when Lewis Hamilton served his 10-second stop/go penalty for pitting when the pits were closed.
From there, he pulled out a small margin and held off a charging Carlos Sainz in the closing laps to claim victory, the second for Red Bull's sister team at Monza.
"It's unbelievable, it was such a crazy race," Gasly said. "We capitalised on the red flag. The car was fast out there, we had a pretty fast car behind us."
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For Pierre, this is the reward for a remarkable response since he was demoted by Red Bull during last year's summer break.
"I've been through so much in the space of 18 months. My first podium last year [in Brazil], I was already like wow with AlphaTauri, and now my first win in Monza. I'm struggling to realise [it].
"I have no words, this team have done so much for me," he added. "They gave me my first opportunity in F1, they gave me my first podium. Now they are giving me my first win.
"It's crazy, honestly. It's just crazy. I'm so happy. I can't thank them enough, everybody from AlphaTauri to Honda.
"It's a power-sensitive track and we won the race out of all the Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault cars, so just an amazing day."
Gasly's win also ends a 24-year wait for a Frenchman to win a Grand Prix, with Olivier Panis the last in Monaco in 1996.
"I've always said coming in F1 that's one thing we need to change because it's been so long," he commented.
"I never expected that it would happen to us with AlphaTauri. We just kept focusing on ourselves since last year, working improving step by step.
"It's crazy, honestly. I'm just so happy."
