Alpine driver Pierre Gasly secured a stunning first‑ever pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, topping a field that included the usual front‑running teams. The Frenchman posted a lap time of 1:19.994, edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just a few tenths of a second, according to The Guardian. This marks Gasly’s first pole since his debut in 2017 and the first for Alpine since the team’s re‑branding from Renault.
Gasly’s performance was a surprise to many, given that Alpine have struggled to match the outright pace of the dominant Red Bull and Ferrari packages throughout the season. The Alpine A523, however, seemed to find a sweet spot on Monza’s high‑speed straights and sweeping corners, allowing Gasly to extract maximum performance from the power‑unit and aerodynamic package. Motorsport.com noted that the driver’s confidence on the “Temple of Speed” was evident, as he hit the apex of the first chicane with flawless precision, setting the benchmark for the rest of the grid.
The pole also reshapes the championship narrative heading into the final two races of the season. While Max Verstappen still leads the drivers’ standings, a strong showing from Gasly could provide Alpine with valuable constructor points and boost morale ahead of the concluding rounds in Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The result underscores the unpredictable nature of qualifying at Monza, where slipstream effects and tyre temperature management can dramatically alter outcomes.
For India: The Italian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode, with the qualifying session starting at 15:00 IST on Saturday and the race kicking off at 13:00 IST on Sunday. Indian fans can also follow live timing on the official F1 app, which provides real‑time sector data and on‑board footage. Gasly’s pole adds an extra storyline for Indian viewers, who have followed his rise from Toro Rosso to Alpine with keen interest.
Source: The Guardian
