Pierre Gasly takes the surprise pole position at the Italian GP in Monza

Pierre Gasly surprisingly took pole position at the Italian GP. On the Monza track, on the last lap of qualifying, the Alpine driver finished ahead of George Russel's Mercedes and Oscar Piastri's McLaren. Fourth and fifth times for the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Seventh time for Kimi Antonelli who will, however, start from last position due to the engine change of his Mercedes. Sixth time for Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

Oscar Piastri loses three positions on the grid in Monza: Leclerc will therefore start third and Hamilton fourth. The McLaren driver was punished by stewards for obstructing Liam Lawson in Q2. Piastri will therefore start sixth, with Verstappen moving up to fifth place.

“It's an incredible feeling.” Pierre Gasly is in disbelief after taking his first pole position in Formula1. "My first pole in Monza, here I won my first race - says Gasly, recalling the success in 2020 on the Alpha Tauri -. I immediately felt good, a good feeling with the car". Gasly, who has lived in Milan for years, ends the interview with the F1 channels in perfect Italian: "I'll sleep well at home tonight." The Olympic champion Federica Brignone gave him the poleman wheel.

"We made life difficult for ourselves but I'll try some magic. I've already succeeded in 2019 and 2024, I always think about it when I'm here in Monza." Charles Leclerc is disappointed after qualifying for the Monza Grand Prix, finishing in fourth position (waiting for the verdict on Piastri, with the possible penalty for impeding). "I don't know why there were so many problems - admits the Monegasque, speaking to the media -. Our race pace is a strong weapon but we will be in difficulty on the straights". Leclerc had already appeared nervous after Q2, when the wall had decided to send the two drivers out on track with used tyres: Hamilton had saved himself by just one thousandth, Leclerc by seven.