Gasly sends shockwaves through Monza with stunning Alpine pole

Alpine emerged as the surprise force of Q1, with Pierre Gasly setting the benchmark in 1:22.612 and Franco Colapinto also impressing in fourth. Max Verstappen finished just 0.019s behind the Frenchman in second, with Lando Norris third. Arvid Lindblad took fifth ahead of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman completed the top 10.

Oscar Piastri endured a much tougher opening segment, managing only 11th, while Gabriel Bortoleto, Liam Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon also progressed. Carlos Sainz grabbed the final spot in Q2 in 16th, leaving Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll eliminated.

Ferrari endured a major scare in Q2, with both cars only just surviving the cut and securing a place in the final part of qualifying. Lewis Hamilton was particularly fortunate, finishing 10th and edging Gabriel Bortoleto out by just one thousandth of a second, while Charles Leclerc was only seven thousandths quicker than his teammate in ninth.

Kimi Antonelli set the benchmark with a 1:21.882, with the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris also safely progressing. Piastri was also noted for potentially impeding Liam Lawson during the session. Pierre Gasly continued Alpine’s strong qualifying showing, while George Russell and Max Verstappen booked their places in Q3 despite the Dutchman reporting problems with the rear of his RB22. Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto also advanced, leaving Bortoleto, Oliver Bearman, Nico Hulkenberg, Lawson, Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon eliminated.

The first runs in Q3 saw George Russell take provisional pole with a 1:21.929, just 0.037s clear of Oscar Piastri. Pierre Gasly continued his impressive qualifying in third, only 0.072s off the benchmark, with Charles Leclerc a further three thousandths behind in fourth after Ferrari’s major scare in Q2.

Max Verstappen slotted into fifth ahead of Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad, while Lewis Hamilton could only manage eighth, almost eight tenths away from Russell. Franco Colapinto sat ninth after the opening attempts.

Gasly delivered the final blow in the closing moments of Q3, producing a stunning 1:21.786 to snatch a shock pole position at Monza. The Alpine driver beat Russell by just 0.060s, with Piastri completing the top three ahead of the two Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton.

Verstappen had to settle for sixth, followed by Antonelli and Colapinto, as Alpine capped off an extraordinary qualifying with both cars inside the top eight. Norris endured a disappointing final segment in ninth, while Lindblad rounded out the top 10.