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Pierre Gasly wins first Monza pole after 17-year wait

9/6/2026

Summary

Gasly Secures Monza Pole

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) earned his first Formula 1 pole at Monza with a 1:21.786 lap.
His time was 0.060 seconds faster than Mercedes driver George Russell.
The pole ends Alpine’s 17-year wait for a top qualifying spot since 2009.
The achievement follows the FIA appeal that reinstated Gasly’s Monaco penalties, stripping his podium.

Summary

Alonso Withdraws

Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore accused an FIA judge of a working relationship with McLaren.
Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid after serving an engine penalty.
Lance Stroll suffered his 100th Q1 elimination, setting an unwanted record for the Aston Martin driver.
Fernando Alonso withdrew from Q1 after a car problem forced him to pull out before completing a lap.

History

Historical Context

In 2009, Renault secured pole at the French Grand Prix with Fernando Alonso leading a 1:38.500 lap, ending a season dominated by Brawn GP. The FIA recorded that Alonso’s pole margin was 0.2 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, contributing to Renault’s 8-point lead in constructors’ standings. Seventeen years later, Pierre Gasly captured Alpine’s first pole at Monza with a 1:21.786 lap, 0.060 seconds faster than George Russell, echoing the 2009 French triumph. This resurgence pressures the FIA, whose recent judge-relationship allegations by Flavio Briatore and penalties for Kimi Antonelli and Lance Stroll could reshape future qualifying regulations.

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Gasly Secures Monza Pole

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) earned his first Formula 1 pole at Monza with a 1:21.786 lap.
His time was 0.060 seconds faster than Mercedes driver George Russell.
The pole ends Alpine’s 17-year wait for a top qualifying spot since 2009.
The achievement follows the FIA appeal that reinstated Gasly’s Monaco penalties, stripping his podium.

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