A historic qualifying at Monza
On Saturday, 5 September 2026, Alpine driver Pierre Gasly stunned the Formula 1 world by securing his first career pole position at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The achievement marked the 109th different polesitter in F1 history and made Gasly the 14th driver among the current 2026 roster to claim a pole, joining the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.
Significance for Alpine and for Gasly
The pole was not only Gasly’s maiden foray to the front of the grid, it also represented Alpine’s first pole ever in Formula 1. The Frenchman earned the Pirelli Pole Position award during the qualifying session, a milestone that underscores Alpine’s progress since its re‑branding.
Context of the performance
Gasly achieved the pole in his 190th Grand Prix, the same circuit where he recorded his only previous F1 victory in 2020 while driving for AlphaTauri. The result placed him ahead of the field in a session described by the media as the biggest qualifying shock of the season.
Reactions and immediate aftermath
Following the session, fellow driver George Russell joked that Gasly had already beaten him at chess before qualifying, highlighting the light‑hearted atmosphere among the drivers despite the high stakes. The pole set the stage for a thrilling race weekend, with fans and commentators eager to see whether the Alpine team could convert the front‑row start into a podium finish.
Where to follow the event
Live coverage of the Italian Grand Prix—including practice times, qualifying results and race updates—was provided by the BBC Sport F1 live feed and the “Chequered Flag” podcast, offering analysis and reviews throughout the weekend. Detailed qualifying results were also published by RacingNews365, confirming Gasly’s pole position and the full order of the grid.