Pierre Gasly claimed a shock pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, securing the first pole of his career and the first for Alpine, edging out George Russell and Oscar Piastri.
Key facts
- Pierre Gasly took his first-ever F1 pole position, and the first for Alpine, at the Italian GP.
- George Russell (Mercedes) qualified second, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri third.
- Charles Leclerc was fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth, while defending champion Lando Norris qualified ninth.
- Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh but starts on the last row after taking a full set of new engine components.
Pierre Gasly produced a sensational performance to claim his first career pole position in Formula One at the Italian Grand Prix, stunning the grid’s usual frontrunners at Monza. The result also marked the first pole position for his Alpine team.
In a tightly-fought qualifying session, the Frenchman just had the edge to take pole over the Mercedes of George Russell in second and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri in third, according to the Guardian.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lined up fourth and fifth on the grid, while the defending world champion, Lando Norris, could manage only ninth.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh but will start on the last row of the grid after taking a full set of new engine components. The Guardian reported that Mercedes opted to make the change at Monza because of the ample scope for overtaking at the circuit, and are hopeful Antonelli might come back to as high as fifth place.
Russell, meanwhile, will be intent on making back a decent haul of points against his teammate, according to the Guardian.
The pole capped a dramatic turnaround for Gasly. Sky Sports reported that the Alpine driver felt he had been “robbed” on Friday after losing his podium from June’s Monaco Grand Prix, only to respond in the most remarkable fashion with pole at Monza.
Why it matters
A pole position for Alpine and Gasly is a rare upset in a series usually dominated by the leading teams. It sets up an unpredictable Italian Grand Prix, with championship leader Antonelli forced to start from the back and Gasly aiming to convert a surprise pole into a strong result.
Frequently asked questions
Who took pole for the F1 Italian Grand Prix?
Pierre Gasly of Alpine took pole position, the first of his career and the first for his team.
Where does championship leader Kimi Antonelli start?
Antonelli qualified seventh but will start on the last row of the grid after taking a full set of new engine components, a change Mercedes made at Monza for its overtaking opportunities.
How did the other frontrunners qualify?
George Russell was second, Oscar Piastri third, Charles Leclerc fourth, Lewis Hamilton fifth and defending champion Lando Norris ninth.