Gasly takes his first pole where he scored his first F1 win

Pierre Gasly will start the Italian Grand Prix from pole after setting a 1m21.786s lap, just 0.060s ahead of George Russell. Oscar Piastri initially qualified third ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto, Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad completing Q3. It is Gasly’s first Formula 1 pole, six years after his maiden victory at the same circuit.

The result was not simply a last-lap surprise. Gasly had already topped Q1 and remained in contention through Q2 before sitting third after the first Q3 runs. His 1:21.786 then survived Russell’s final improvement. Gasly says his confidence grew progressively in an Alpine that has recently been upgraded and is now powered by Mercedes.

Colapinto also reached Q3 and will start seventh once penalties ahead are applied. Alpine therefore holds an exceptional track position for Sunday. The key question is no longer whether Gasly had one-lap pace, but how long the Alpine can resist Mercedes, Ferrari and Verstappen over 53 laps.