Gasly claims maiden F1 pole for Alpine at Monza
Pierre Gasly secured his first Formula 1 pole position for Alpine during qualifying for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Frenchman edged George Russell by 0.060 seconds in a tight Q3 battle that featured strategic use of slipstream.
Qualifying session overview
Pierre Gasly topped the timesheets in qualifying for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza with a lap of 1:21.786.[1] He beat Mercedes driver George Russell by 0.060 seconds.[2] McLaren's Oscar Piastri qualified third.[3]
Gasly advanced strongly through the sessions. He led Q1 and placed fourth in Q2 before his decisive final run in Q3.[1] The result marks his first career pole and the first for the Alpine team.[2]
Key performance factors
The session highlighted the importance of track position and tow at the high-speed Monza circuit. Gasly benefited from a slipstream on his final lap.[1] Several frontrunners, including Russell, used tows from teammates or rivals to improve times.[3]
Starting grid implications
Gasly starts from pole alongside Russell. Piastri lines up third, with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth.[2] Championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh but starts from the back due to a grid penalty.[3]
Related reading
- [1]2026 Italian Grand Prix Qualifying report and highlights: Pierre Gasly charges to sensational maiden F1 pole at Monza over Russell and Piastri (formula1). Accessed 2026-09-05.
- [2]F1 Italian GP: Pierre Gasly takes shock maiden pole at Monza (motorsport). Accessed 2026-09-05.
- [3]Italian Grand Prix: Pierre Gasly beats George Russell to stunning Monza pole (bbc). Accessed 2026-09-05.