In a day that will go down in the annals of Monza’s history, Alpine driver Pierre Gasly seized his first ever Formula 1 pole position, clocking a lap time that left the grid in stunned silence. Per Motorsport.com, Gasly’s 1:18.842 lap was the fastest of the session, beating the nearest rival by 0.12 seconds. NDTV Sports echoed the shock, noting that the Frenchman’s performance was “a testament to the car’s improved pace and his own growing confidence.”
The 26‑year‑old, who joined Alpine in 2023, had struggled to find a rhythm in his first season with the team. Yet on the high‑speed Monza circuit, he capitalised on the car’s strong straight‑line speed and the team’s fine‑tuned aerodynamics. The result not only gave Alpine a rare front‑row start but also marked a significant personal milestone for Gasly, who has yet to secure a pole in his 70‑plus career starts.
Gasly’s pole will be a key talking point as the race unfolds. With the 2026 regulations still in play, teams are testing new power‑train and aerodynamic concepts, and Alpine’s performance at Monza suggests they are on the right track. The Frenchman’s lap also puts pressure on the dominant Red Bull and Mercedes outfits, who will need to push hard to keep the Alpine driver at bay.
For Indian fans, the race will be available on FanCode from 3:00 PM IST, with live commentary and real‑time data. The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 3:00 PM IST, and viewers can follow the action live on the FanCode app or website. Gasly’s pole could set the tone for a thrilling showdown, and Indian audiences will want to see whether the Alpine driver can convert this historic start into a podium finish.
Source: Motorsport.com, NDTV Sports
