Pierre Gasly secures maiden Formula 1 pole position at Monza ahead of George Russell

Breakthrough at the Autodromo Nazionale

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly took the first pole position of his Formula 1 career during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Saturday, 5 September 2026. Gasly, who lives in nearby Milan, clocked a final lap that beat Mercedes driver George Russell by 0.06 seconds. The result was Gasly's 190th Grand Prix start and made him the first French driver to achieve a pole position in Formula 1 since Jean Alesi drove for Benetton at Monza in 1997. It is also his second career milestone at the Italian circuit, following his maiden Grand Prix victory with AlphaTauri in 2020. Speaking after the session, Gasly reflected on his achievement.

That was fantastic. I felt incredible in the car right from the first lap.

Penalty reshuffle for Antonelli and Piastri

Russell qualified in second position after losing a pre-qualifying chess match against Gasly earlier in the day. His Mercedes teammate, championship leader Kimi Antonelli, qualified seventh but will start Sunday's 53-lap race from the back of the grid. Antonelli, who arrived in Monza as the first Italian championship leader since Alberto Ascari in 1953, received a grid penalty following his fifth engine change of the season. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri initially posted the third-fastest time in Q3. However, race stewards subsequently issued Piastri a three-place grid penalty for impeding another car, dropping him down the starting grid.

For the race I am not under any big illusions. I will stay at the front as long as possible. But the favourites have other names.

Mixed fortunes for Ferrari and Audi

Ferrari experienced a difficult qualifying session before recovering on the revised starting grid. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton narrowly advanced out of Q2, with Hamilton beating Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto by 0.001 seconds to claim tenth place in the session. Following Piastri's penalty, Leclerc and Hamilton were promoted to fourth and fifth on the grid, locking out the second row for Ferrari. Bortoleto qualified 11th and moved up to tenth due to Antonelli's penalty, starting alongside Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad. Audi teammate Nico Hülkenberg qualified 13th and will start 12th, while Williams driver Alex Albon qualified 18th.

Turnaround for Gasly after legal setback

The pole position followed a setback for Gasly on Friday, 4 September 2026, when the FIA International Court of Appeal upheld a pit lane speeding penalty that stripped him of his third-place podium finish from the Monaco Grand Prix. Gasly converted that frustration into his best qualifying performance, benefiting from Alpine's switch to Mercedes power units, which has helped lift the team to sixth in the constructors standings. Gasly acknowledged the personal significance of the Italian venue.

This is a special place for me.

The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 15:00 local time on Sunday, 6 September 2026.