Alpine upended the expected Formula 1 order at the Italian Grand Prix when Pierre Gasly secured pole, ending a 17-year wait for the team and changing expectations for the weekend at Monza. His lap was Alpine’s first pole since the team took its current name, bringing an unexpected change to the front of the grid.
Gasly found speed early in qualifying and improved with each session. On his final run, he got everything out of the car and left rivals behind. Living in Milan and familiar with Monza, Gasly called the result the payoff for nearly ten years of work to reach this level.
Pierre Gasly was replaced by Paul Aron in FP1 at Monza due to rookie session regulations, leaving Gasly with less track time before qualifying.
Formula1.com
Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen praised Gasly’s ability to deliver when the car is competitive. Nielsen acknowledged that the team has struggled to provide a strong car in recent years, but said Gasly made the most of the chance. He also credited Franco, Alpine’s other driver, for a solid qualifying effort.
The starting grid for Sunday’s race looks very different. George Russell will start alongside Gasly, with Oscar Piastri in third. Lewis Hamilton barely made it out of Q2, advancing to the final session by just one thousandth of a second. The narrow gaps showed how intense and unpredictable qualifying at Monza can be.
For Alpine, the pole is a major basic stage. The last time the team started from the front was with Fernando Alonso in 2009, under a different name and in a different era. Gasly’s pole at Monza, a track where he also took his first win, gives the team new energy after years of struggling to break into Formula 1’s top group.
Just a day before qualifying, the FIA International Court of Appeal overturned Alpine's appeal regarding Gasly's Monaco podium, demoting him from third to seventh due to pit lane speeding penalties. Team principal Steve Nielsen described the decision as a 'hard blow' but stressed that Alpine still has 10 races left to recover points and focus on car development.
FIA/International Court of Appeal
While Gasly’s pole is the headline, the championship picture remains unsettled. The Italian Grand Prix is known for surprises, and this qualifying session adds to that reputation. With some usual favorites starting further back, race strategy and the championship standings could shift.
Recent races have shown that upsets are always possible, as seen at the Aragón MotoGP weekend, where established leaders faced new challenges. Alpine’s pole at Monza fits the pattern, reminding teams and fans that nothing is certain until the checkered flag.
Gasly’s pole is a personal achievement and a sign that Alpine can disrupt the usual order when the chance comes. The team’s next test is turning this starting position into a strong race result.
