Pierre Gasly of France drives the number 10 BWT Alpine F1 Team A526 Mercedes during the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d’Italia 2026 at Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, on September 5, 2026. (Photo by Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly delivered a stunning performance in Saturday’s qualifying, putting his Alpine on pole position for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
The Frenchman clocked a lap time of 1m 21.786s on his final run, enough to launch to the top of the timesheets and secure his and the Enstone outfit’s first-ever pole.
If the 30-year-old managed to convert the advantage into a victory, it would mark his second career win – the first being at this very venue back in 2020 when he drove for AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls).
The victory would also represent Alpine’s second ever following Esteban Ocon’s triumph in Hungary in 2021.
MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Pole position qualifier Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1 and Second placed qualifier George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team congratulate each other in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 05, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell’s Mercedes clocked in the second-fastest time at the Temple of Spee, falling short of pole by a mere 0.060s.
Oscar Piastri initially landed his McLaren in third place but was later handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson during qualifying, which bumped him down to P6.
The penalty moved Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc up to third on the grid, while teammate Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen of Red Bull will start from fourth and fifth respectively.
Franco Colapinto secured P7 in the other Alpine ahead of defending champion Lando Norris of McLaren, with Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto rounding out the fastest 10.
Elsewhere, current championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli had initially posted the seventh-fastest time for Mercedes but was pushed to the back of the grid due to an engine penalty, having exceeded the limit of four power units allowed in a season. He will be starting the race from 19th place.
Alexander Albon also received a heavy grid penalty for power unit changes which sees him start from 20th.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin is set to start from the pit lane after taking new power unit components. Lawson, who was set to start from 21st after receiving a grid penalty for power unit changes, will also be sent to the pit lane after Red Bull changed his rear wing assembly.
Lawson continues to step in for Isack Hadjar, who has been sidelined for two races due to a wrist injury he sustained during the summer break.
Yuki Tsunoda temporarily fills in Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls.
Italian Grand Prix 2026 Starting Grid
Here’s the starting order for Sunday’s race in Monza with penalties applied:
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine): 1:21.786
- George Russell (Mercedes): +0.060
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.218
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): +0.225
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +0.284
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +0.180
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine): +0.434
- Lando Norris (McLaren): +0.470
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls): +0.500
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi): +0.731
- Oliver Bearman (Haas): +0.970
- Nico Hulkenberg (Audi): +0.993
- Carlos Sainz (Williams): +1.667
- Esteban Ocon (Haas): +1.668
- Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls): +1.969
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac): +2.578
- Sergio Perez (Cadillac): +2.809
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): +3.436
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +0.307
- Alexander Albon (Williams): +2.570
Pit Lane Start
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
The Italian Grand Prix race starts at 3 p.m. local time (CEST) on Sunday, September 6.
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