Monza sees Pierre Gasly claim maiden F1 pole position

By Priya Anand — 5 September 2026 — 3 min read

Pierre Gasly secured his first career Formula 1 pole position at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. The Alpine driver delivered a standout performance, outpacing Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in a closely contested session.

Gasly, who previously achieved his first F1 victory at Monza in 2020, demonstrated strong pace throughout Saturday’s qualifying. His updated, Mercedes-powered car proved effective on the track. After the initial runs in Q3, Gasly was positioned third behind Russell and Piastri. However, he then posted a lap time of 1m 21.786s on his final attempt, moving ahead of both rivals to claim the top spot.

Qualifying Highlights and Surprises

The qualifying session saw several notable performances and some unexpected results. Following Gasly’s pole, Russell secured second place with a time of 1:21.846, and Piastri finished third with 1:21.966. The Ferrari team, which had shown promising form in practice sessions, found themselves off the pace when it mattered most. Charles Leclerc qualified fourth with 1:22.004, and Lewis Hamilton took fifth with 1:22.011.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured sixth position, while home driver Kimi Antonelli in the other Mercedes qualified seventh. Antonelli, however, is set to face a grid penalty due to an engine change. Alpine also saw another car in the final phase, with Franco Colapinto placing eighth. Lando Norris of McLaren, who experienced brake issues during qualifying, finished ninth, ahead of Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad in tenth.

The battle for Q3 entry was particularly tight. Hamilton narrowly advanced, being just 0.001s faster than Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who ended up 11th. Other drivers eliminated in Q2 included Ollie Bearman in his upgraded Haas-Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson (who also faces a grid penalty for a power unit change), Carlos Sainz, and Esteban Ocon.

Lawson’s Q2 run was impacted by Piastri, an incident that stewards noted. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda’s second weekend as a stand-in for Racing Bulls proved challenging, as he was eliminated in Q1 in 17th position. Alexander Albon, also facing an engine-related grid penalty, provided a tow to Sainz in Q1, placing him 18th. The bottom of the Q1 standings included Cadillac drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

Session Breakdown and Key Moments

The qualifying session commenced after Saturday’s third practice, which Russell had topped. The importance of gaining an effective tow was a key strategic element. As Q1 began, three drivers—Antonelli, Albon, and Lawson—already knew they would incur grid penalties due to power unit changes.

In the early stages of Q1, drivers jostled for track position, balancing clear air with slipstream opportunities. Gasly and Colapinto initially surged to the top of the timesheets, with Gasly ultimately setting the pace for Q1. McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri reported struggles with their brakes. Bortoleto and Hulkenberg successfully advanced to Q2 for Audi.

Q2 saw Red Bull quickly set banker laps, though Verstappen reported issues with his car’s rear axle. Piastri initially held the fastest time, closely followed by Norris and Gasly. Hamilton found himself in 11th, needing to improve on his second run. Antonelli eventually topped Q2 with a time of 1m 21.882s, with Hamilton securing the final Q3 spot by the narrowest of margins.

The decisive Q3 shootout began with Russell taking a provisional pole after receiving a tow from Antonelli. Despite leading, Russell expressed discomfort with his car’s handling, citing front locking and instability. The final runs saw drama as Piastri missed his entry to the first chicane, but Gasly capitalized, delivering a stunning final lap to secure his maiden pole position in Formula 1.

Gasly’s achievement was met with delight, while Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton settled for the second row. Antonelli, despite his seventh-place qualifying, will start from the back of the grid due to his penalty, elevating Colapinto, Norris, and Lindblad in the starting order for the race.

The qualifying results set the stage for an intriguing race, with Gasly leading the field from the front for the first time in his F1 career.

Source: formula1.com