Gasly Secures Monza Pole
Pierre Gasly stuns Formula 1 by securing his maiden pole position at Monza.
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Gasly said the result surpassed expectations: “What an incredible moment, my first pole position in Formula One. I am absolutely delighted by what happened today even if we all can’t quite believe it.”
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Shortly before qualifying, Gasly and George Russell played online chess, with Gasly winning; Russell later joked, “I thought, ‘Well, I think I’ll beat you in qualifying,’ and here we are, he’s ahead of me again.”
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Lewis Hamilton narrowly advanced from Q2 by just 0.001 seconds, preserving his chance of challenging for victory despite the close call.
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Ferrari put both cars near the front for its home race, with Charles Leclerc qualifying third and Carlos Sainz fourth, strengthening the team’s position as a threat to Gasly and Russell.
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Gasly’s previous Monza victory in 2020 came while driving for Toro Rosso, after Lance Stroll went off on the opening lap and Lewis Hamilton later served a penalty, helping Gasly inherit the lead.
Pierre Gasly claimed his first Formula 1 pole position in his 190th race at the Italian Grand Prix on September 5, stunning the sport by edging George Russell by just 0.060 seconds. BBC called it the "biggest surprise pole in years," as the Alpine driver's lap of 1:21.786 showcased unexpected speed on Monza's high-speed layout where McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari had been favored.
Gasly's breakthrough came after nine years of chasing the opportunity. "What an incredible moment, my first pole position in Formula One," Gasly said, adding "I am absolutely delighted by what happened today even if we all can't quite believe it." The wait ranks as the second-longest for a maiden pole in F1 history, per Head Topics.
Gasly Beats Russell in Qualifying and Chess
George Russell's second-place finish masked a frustration born earlier in the day. The Mercedes driver and Gasly played online chess about 15 minutes before qualifying. Russell joked afterward: "He beat me there. And I thought, 'Well, I think I'll beat you in qualifying,' and here we are: he's ahead of me again." BBC reported the playful moment added another layer to Gasly's stunning performance.
Ferrari Locks Out Second Row for Home Race
Ferrari positioned itself as a serious threat with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz qualifying third and fourth respectively. The gap narrowed after Oscar Piastri received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson, promoting Leclerc to third and Lewis Hamilton to fourth. BBC noted Ferrari's front-row proximity strengthened its position for the race at its home track.
Hamilton Survives Q2 by Razor-Thin Margin
Lewis Hamilton narrowly advanced from Q2 by just 0.001 seconds over Gabriel Bortoleto, preserving his chance to fight for victory despite the close call. Speedway Digest highlighted how the Mercedes driver's tight progression set up his final qualifying run. The Q2 escape proved crucial given Piastri's subsequent penalty shuffle that elevated Hamilton's race-day grid position.
Alpine's Monza Momentum After Turbulent Season
Gasly's pole marks Alpine's first since rebranding in 2021 and comes on Monza's famous straight-line course where the team's low-drag setup excels. Head Topics noted the breakthrough arrives after a turbulent period including recent FIA rulings and podium penalties. The pole delivers crucial financial and morale momentum as Alpine battles for constructors' points in the European leg's final stages.
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