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Pierre Gasly produced a landmark qualifying performance at Monza, taking the first pole position of his Formula 1 career on the same circuit where he claimed his maiden grand prix victory. The Alpine driver edged George Russell by just 0.060 seconds in a tightly contested Q3 shootout.
Russell initially set the benchmark with a 1m21.929s lap, placing ahead of Oscar Piastri, Gasly and Charles Leclerc. But with less than two-tenths separating the entire top 10, track position and the use of a slipstream became decisive.
Mercedes attempted to maximise that advantage through Kimi Antonelli, whose engine penalty means he will start from the last row. Antonelli was asked to give Russell a tow around Monza’s 5.8km lap. Gasly responded perfectly, using a slipstream from Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to produce the session’s decisive effort and move ahead of Russell.
Piastri and Leclerc completed the top five, followed by Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Antonelli qualified seventh but will lose that position because of his penalty, promoting Franco Colapinto. Arvid Lindblad will also move up, from 10th to ninth.
The qualifying session remains subject to further scrutiny, with Liam Lawson’s Italian GP grid penalty adding to the reshuffle at the back. Lawson will start alongside Antonelli after an engine penalty, while Piastri has been summoned by the stewards after qualifying third.
Lando Norris ended a disappointing ninth after failing to secure a tow from team-mate Piastri. The Australian ran wide at Turn 1, compromising his own lap and leaving Norris to face the air alone. Both McLaren drivers had struggled under braking at the opening corner, while Piastri is also expected to face an investigation for allegedly blocking Liam Lawson.
Ferrari endured a tense Q2. Hamilton appeared to catch traffic and entered the drop zone, while Leclerc was ninth and unable to improve. Hamilton eventually found half a tenth, eliminating Gabriel Bortoleto by only 0.001s and keeping both Ferraris in the final shootout.
Gabriel Bortoleto qualified 11th, ahead of Haas driver Oliver Bearman, who used an upgraded car and power unit. Lawson was 13th, followed by Nico Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon.
Yuki Tsunoda was eliminated in Q1 in 17th after failing to complete a clean lap. Sainz advanced by 0.139s with help from a tow provided by Alex Albon. Cadillac drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez finished ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, with Alonso unable to complete his final run because of a Honda power-unit problem.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.