Pierre Gasly says the mimicking of Fernando Alonso's "now we can fight" radio message in Bahrain was his way to "give credit back to Honda".
In Australia, the Spaniard said those words after finishing fifth in McLaren's first race using Renault power but the Frenchman would repeat after he finished fourth last Sunday in the Honda-powered Toro Rosso.
Though conceding it was nothing more than a "joke", he does admit there was a viable meaning behind it.
"I just I think we need to give credit back to Honda," he said. “In the end, they had a really tough three years with McLaren and to finish fourth in our second race with them was just amazing.
“It was a way to give back to them credit because they are working really hard. They need credit for the hard work they are doing.”
His result was also the Japanese manufacturer's best since returning to Formula 1 as an engine supplier in 2015 as he beat Alonso over the finish line by a massive 48 seconds.
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That and his jibe though weren't met too well by the double world champion's fans on social media.
“It has been quite crazy, some tough messages,” Gasly claimed. “I have huge respect for Fernando. Fernando is one of the best drivers in all-time in F1, one of my idols.
“It was nothing related [to him personally] it was a comment for Honda because I think they deserve the credit.”
