Pierre Gasly delivered one of the biggest surprises of the season at Monza, securing his first Formula 1 pole position at the same circuit where he famously claimed his maiden victory six years ago.
Few would have tipped Alpine as a contender heading into Saturday’s Qualifying, but Gasly showed impressive pace from the outset. He topped Q1 before producing another brilliant lap when it mattered most in Q3 to secure an unexpected pole.
After nine years in Formula 1, the significance of finally achieving the milestone wasn’t lost on the Frenchman.
“I won my first race in Monza, and to get my first pole position on this track… I think is something special around here.”
Holding off the faster cars over an entire Grand Prix was always going to be difficult, but Gasly made the most of his opportunity when the lights went out. He held the lead throughout the opening lap and remained among the frontrunners during the early stages before gradually slipping back as the race unfolded.
Gasly eventually crossed the line seventh, 27 seconds behind race winner Kimi Antonelli. While it wasn’t the podium he might have dreamed about after Saturday’s result, it still delivered valuable points for Alpine. And he wasn’t the only Alpine driver to score.
Franco Colapinto enjoyed a strong afternoon of his own, running as high as third following the restart. An off-track moment at Lesmo 1 cost him several positions, but the Argentine recovered well and passed Yuki Tsunoda in the closing stages to secure ninth.
With Gasly seventh and Colapinto ninth, Alpine leaves Monza with both cars in the points and an important boost in its Constructors’ Championship battle. The team has now reduced the gap to Racing Bulls to just 13 points in the fight for fifth.
Regardless of Sunday’s result, Gasly’s Saturday performance will be one of the enduring memories of the weekend. Six years after producing one of Formula 1’s great underdog victories at Monza, he added another special chapter to his history at the Italian circuit with the first pole position of his career.
