Pierre Gasly clinches pole position for Italian Grand Prix
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly secured pole for the Monza Grand Prix, marking the team's first pole under its current name and the first for a French driver at the circuit since 1997.
Pierre Gasly earned pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, delivering Alpine its first pole since rebranding and the first French pole at the circuit since 1997. The 33-year-old qualified ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, setting a lap that surprised many after a season in which Alpine had struggled for competitiveness.
"Very excited for tomorrow," Gasly said, describing his emotions after the qualifying session.
"Why not? I know it. Again, odds aren't going to be with me but we are not here for the odds, we are here to be giving our best," he added, emphasizing his intent to fight for the race win.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who qualified fifth, noted that the car performed well in practice but struggled in the final qualifying segment, saying execution in Q3 was poor. He also remarked that Mercedes still lags behind on straight-line speed despite recent upgrades.
Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen said the team’s mood had shifted dramatically over the weekend, praising Gasly’s performance and the progress made with the car.
"Pierre is a class act, if you give him the machine, he will deliver," Nielsen told Sky Sports.
Other drivers commented on their sessions: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri expressed satisfaction with a third-place start, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli described his role in supporting his teammate during qualifying.
The pole marks the first for Alpine since Fernando Alonso’s Renault pole in 2009 and the first for the Enstone-based outfit in 17 years. Gasly, who has been in Formula 1 for nine seasons, described the achievement as “something special”.