Gasly takes surprise Monza pole, Leclerc third after Piastri penalty, Hamilton fourth

Pierre Gasly produced the surprise of qualifying at Monza, breaking into an expected Mercedes-Ferrari fight to take pole for Alpine. The result carried particular weight for the French driver at the circuit where he scored his only Formula One victory, in 2020.

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I am just very happy and proud, for me, for the team. We went beyond every expectation. In nine years in Formula 1 I have never been able to compete for certain positions, it is such a beautiful feeling. Italy for me is the country of firsts, tonight I will sleep very well.

Gasly, who has lived in Milan for years with his Portuguese partner Kika, described the achievement in fluent Italian as a personal and team breakthrough. "I am just very happy and proud, for me, for the team. We went beyond every expectation. In nine years in Formula 1 I have never been able to compete for certain positions, it is such a beautiful feeling. Italy for me is the country of firsts, tonight I will sleep very well."

The pole also offered a response for Alpine executive Flavio Briatore after the controversy surrounding the Monaco Grand Prix. "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 been on pole for 16 years. If we want to dream, let us aim for victory. Realistically, the podium is within reach." Managing director Steve Nielsen called the result a form of redemption after the atmosphere surrounding the earlier ruling, saying, "It is fantastic."

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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 been on pole for 16 years. If we want to dream, let us aim for victory. Realistically, the podium is within reach.

Russell starts second, although Mercedes knows Alpine uses the same engine and may not be an easy car to pass. Leclerc and Hamilton move up to the second row after Piastri's penalty for blocking Lawson. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed disappointment at missing pole with Russell but said he was happy for Alpine. Andrea Kimi Antonelli starts from the back after changing his power unit and said he needed to avoid trouble through the first two chicanes.

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It is fantastic.

Ferrari's qualifying session became a source of concern after its strong practice showing. The team sent both drivers onto used tyres in Q2, while a battery problem, according to team principal Frédéric Vasseur, left Hamilton only one thousandth and Leclerc seven thousandths clear of elimination. In Q3, Hamilton complained of poor execution after finding himself without a slipstream on his first run. Leclerc said Ferrari had complicated matters itself and would try to produce a repeat of his earlier Monza magic.

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We complicated our own lives. We struggle on the straights, but I will try to work some magic as in 2019 and 2024.