PIERRE GASLY has revealed he was called up by a host of football stars to congratulate him on winning last week’s Italian GP.
The Frenchman was the shock winner in Monza to earn his first ever victory in F1 and received plenty of well-known well-wishers, including French President, Emmanuel Macron.
Paris Saint-Germain fan Gasly said: “I was impressed and very happy how much support messages I got from all other athletes in the world of sports.
“Guys like Neymar, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Fabio, Giroud, so many players actually follow F1 and congratulated me.
“Also in different sports, in tennis, some cyclists, from everywhere. I was shocked and I still haven’t had the chance to go through all the messages.
“It means a lot because this makes me realise sometimes we are focusing and not realising so many people are following back in their life, and really happy for the success of other guys.”
Lewis Hamilton was also full of praise for the 24-year-old, who has endured a torrid 12 months after being demoted from Red Bull, losing his best mate in a racing accident AND getting burgled.
Gasly and Hamilton have struck up a friendship playing Call of Duty together on their Playstations.
He added: “It’s pretty funny to play together and team up together as it’s very different to normal, we’ve got to help each other if we want to get the win.
“Obviously in coronavirus times, during the lockdown, we did spend some more time on the Playstation.
“It was actually nice because we started to discuss F1 and got to know each other a bit more.
“I got a lot from that time and I feel like when I need some advice I am free to reach him and he’s always really open and willing to help me back. He’s a very nice guy.
“For me Lewis is a very special guy, someone I really looked at when I was a kid and in my eyes is probably the best driver we ever had in F1.
“So when I heard the words he said it’s obviously very touching and unbelievable, because for me it feels strange because these guys I looked at since I’m 10 years old and was always a great example to follow and now I’m racing with him and he’s talking this way about me.
“When you get such strong words from a six-time world champion, who will become a seven-time world champion in a couple of months, it’s pretty special.”
Meanwhile, Williams F1 team have confirmed that Simon Roberts will take the role of acting Team Principal after the Williams family stepped down from their roles.
Roberts joined the team earlier this year as managing director and will now be in charge for the Tuscan GP this weekend in Mugello.
