Monza produced one of the biggest qualifying shocks in recent memory as Pierre Gasly stunned the paddock with a sensational lap to secure the first pole position of his career. Alpine had not been considered among the favourites heading into the session, but the Frenchman delivered a perfect final effort to edge out George Russell by just six hundredths of a second, giving both himself and the Enstone-based team a memorable Saturday at the Temple of Speed.
The session was fiercely competitive from the very beginning. Mercedes looked set to continue its dominance after Russell topped the final practice session earlier in the day, while Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull all remained within striking distance. Slipstream tactics played a crucial role around Monza’s long straights, with several teams carefully orchestrating towing strategies to maximise straight-line speed during the decisive Q3 runs.
When the final laps arrived, Russell appeared to have done enough to claim pole after producing an outstanding benchmark. However, Gasly saved his best until the very end. Benefiting from a perfectly timed tow from teammate Yuki Tsunoda, the Alpine driver produced a flawless lap of 1:21.786, snatching pole in the closing seconds and leaving the entire paddock in disbelief. It marked Alpine’s first pole position since the team’s rebranding and the first by a French driver at Monza since Jean Alesi in 1997.
Oscar Piastri secured third place for McLaren after another consistent qualifying performance, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lined up fourth and fifth for Ferrari. The margins at the front were astonishingly small, with the top six covered by less than two tenths of a second, highlighting just how competitive the field has become as the championship enters its decisive phase.
Further back, championship leader Kimi Antonelli endured a frustrating afternoon. Although the Mercedes driver showed competitive pace throughout qualifying, engine component changes mean he will start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid, handing his title rivals a golden opportunity to reduce the gap in the standings. Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson also suffered disappointing early exits, with Lawson furious after being caught in traffic during his final attempt.
For Gasly, however, Saturday will be remembered as one of the defining moments of his career. Against all expectations, the Frenchman outpaced the championship’s heavyweight contenders and earned his maiden pole position with a lap that will live long in Alpine history. Now the challenge is even greater: converting that remarkable qualifying performance into an equally memorable result on race day.
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2026 Italy
Qualifying
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