Pierre Gasly has delivered a stunning performance at Monza, securing a shock pole position for the Italian Grand Prix. This marks the Frenchman's first Formula One pole and a historic first for his Alpine team.
Gasly edged out Mercedes' George Russell, who will start second, and McLaren's Oscar Piastri in third. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth and fifth respectively, while defending world champion Lando Norris will begin the race from ninth.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, despite finishing seventh in qualifying, will start from the last row of the grid. Mercedes opted to fit a full set of new engine components at Monza, hoping the circuit's ample overtaking opportunities will allow him to recover to as high as fifth place. Antonelli currently holds a 59-point lead over both Russell and Hamilton.
This pole position is a remarkable achievement for Gasly in his ninth F1 season, especially given Alpine's performance this season, where they currently sit sixth in the championship with Gasly in tenth.