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F1: Gasly stuns everyone at Monza with first pole after Monaco heartbreak

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Pierre Gasly took his first Formula One pole position at Monza, turning around the disappointment of losing his Monaco podium on appeal.
  • George Russell qualified second, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will start from the second row after Oscar Piastri’s penalty.
  • Ferrari struggled with used tyres, a battery problem and poor qualifying execution despite strong practice performances.

Pierre Gasly emerged as the surprise winner of qualifying at Monza, interrupting the expected Mercedes-Ferrari battle with Alpine’s first pole position in 16 years. The result came three months after his anger over a denied podium at Monaco.

I am just very happy and proud, for me and for the team. We went beyond every expectation. In nine years in Formula One I have never been able to compete for certain positions. It is such a beautiful feeling.

· Pierre GaslyGasly celebrated his first Formula One pole position at Monza.

Monza carries particular meaning for Gasly. It is the circuit where he secured his only Formula One victory, in 2020, and he lives in nearby Milan with his Portuguese girlfriend, Kika. Speaking in fluent Italian, Gasly said, “I am just very happy and proud, for me and for the team. We went beyond every expectation.”

The result also offered a response for Alpine and Flavio Briatore after the controversy surrounding the Monaco ruling. “What happened is not nice at all, but it shows that you always have to react,” Briatore said. He called the pole a major satisfaction and said the team could dream of victory, while realistically targeting the podium. Managing director Steve Nielsen described the result as a redemption after the mood in the garage when the ruling arrived.

What happened is not nice at all, but it shows that you always have to react. It is a great satisfaction. This team had not taken pole for 16 years. If we want to dream, let’s aim for victory. Realistically, the podium is within reach.

· Flavio BriatoreBriatore framed the pole as a response to Alpine’s Monaco disappointment.

Russell will start second, but Alpine uses the same Mercedes engine, making Gasly a difficult rival to pass. Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton moved up to the second row after Piastri received a three-place penalty for impeding Liam Lawson. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff struck a monitor in frustration at missing pole, although he said he was happy for Alpine. Kimi Antonelli will start from the back after changing his power unit.

Poor execution.

· Lewis HamiltonHamilton criticized Ferrari’s qualifying strategy after starting his first Q3 attempt without a slipstream.

Ferrari’s qualifying session deteriorated after impressive practice times. The team sent both drivers out on used tyres in Q2 and encountered a battery problem, leaving Hamilton and Leclerc just clear of elimination. In Q3, Hamilton had no slipstream on his first attempt. “Poor execution,” he told British media. Leclerc said, “We complicated our lives by ourselves. We struggle on the straights, but I’ll try some magic like in 2019 and 2024.”

We complicated our lives by ourselves. We struggle on the straights, but I’ll try some magic like in 2019 and 2024.

· Charles LeclercLeclerc assessed Ferrari’s qualifying problems and looked ahead to the race.
About this summary

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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