Pierre Gasly still feels the sting of what he describes as a "robbery" after losing his podium finish at the June Monaco Grand Prix, but he managed to flip the narrative in spectacular fashion by securing pole position for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Just a day after the FIA International Court of Appeal reinstated the pit‑lane speeding penalties that had been stripped from his record, the Alpine driver responded with his first ever Formula 1 pole.
The achievement is being hailed as one of the most surprising moments in recent F1 history, and, coming six years after his lone victory at the same circuit, it offers Gasly a chance to avenge what he believes was an unjust decision on Friday. "I've been in Formula 1 for nine years, always trying to give my absolute best every weekend, and you don’t get a car that can fight for pole every time," Gasly said after his qualifying run. "Today was one of those rare occasions, and I’m incredibly happy and proud to have taken advantage of the opportunity.
It was a fantastic lap." Gasly’s emotions have always run high both on and off the track, and his frustration reached a peak when he learned that the appeals lodged by McLaren and Red Bull over the Monaco result had led to the reinstatement of two five‑second penalties for exceeding the pit‑lane speed limit. In June, Alpine had successfully argued that the penalties should be removed because the measurement of the pit‑lane distance had been incorrect, meaning Gasly was not actually speeding. Speaking to Canal+, Gasly declared, "We’re being robbed, and I don’t think this ends here." Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore also weighed in, questioning the relationship between the reigning constructors’ champions and a judge at the FIA’s International Court of Appeal (ICA).
The ICA responded on Saturday, asserting confidence in the integrity of the proceedings and the soundness of its judges. The controversy seemed to light a fire under Gasly, who produced what many are calling the best lap of his nine‑year career.
He admitted that the appeal situation was "not nice," but he tried to channel it into extra motivation. "I try to turn everything I can into something positive, extra motivation, but I think I could have performed just as well without the drama this weekend. That’s all I’ll say," he explained. Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen echoed the sentiment on Sky Sports F1, saying, "When you think about the mood in the camp after the Monaco result – which honestly will annoy me for the rest of my life – it’s a great way to bounce back with a pole.
It’s lovely." Other drivers quickly congratulated Gasly on his achievement, including George Russell, who will line up on the front row for Sunday’s race. Russell revealed that he and Gasly had been playing a quick game of chess just before qualifying, and Gasly had won that match. "We were finishing a game of chess about fifteen minutes before qualifying and he beat me, and I thought, ‘Well, I think I’ll beat you in qualifying,’ and here we are, he’s ahead of me again," Russell said. "Huge congrats to him.
Pierre and Alpine have been super‑fast even from Q1." Gasly’s lone Formula 1 victory came at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, a race that held deep personal significance as it took place a year after the tragic death of his close friend Anthoine Hubert. Now, at Monza, he finds himself with another unexpected shot at a second win.
Alpine’s package is particularly well‑suited to Monza’s high‑speed layout. The team benefits from a Mercedes power unit that delivers strong straight‑line performance, while the car’s low‑drag aerodynamic setup further enhances its speed on the famous "Temple of Speed" straights. Monza’s energy‑rich nature means teams will likely employ varied power‑unit deployment strategies, leading to the kind of back‑and‑forth racing that characterized earlier parts of the season. Those strategies could give Gasly the chance to keep Russell behind him, or to stay ahead of the British driver if the Mercedes‑powered car finds itself in front during the opening laps.
When asked by Sky Sports F1 whether he believed a win was within reach, Gasly replied confidently: "Why not? I’ll do everything I can tonight, coming prepared for tomorrow.
The good thing is, I know what it feels like to have no one in front of you on this track, so at least if there’s a place to start on pole, I’m glad it’s here." With championship leader Kimi Antonelli starting from the back of the grid due to penalties, a victory for Russell would significantly close his 59‑point deficit to his Mercedes teammate. "It’s going to be an interesting fight with Pierre as well. They have a car with great straight‑line speed, which will be nice for them in the race," Antonelli said.
"I don’t really know where the battle will be tomorrow, but I’m confident I have the pace to go for the win." The weekend schedule includes a packed lineup of support races: the F3 Feature Race at 7:10 am, the F2 Feature Race at 8:40 am, the Porsche Supercup at 10:40 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up and the main event at 2:00 pm. The Italian Grand Prix will conclude with a post‑race reaction segment at 4:00 pm and Ted’s Notebook at 5:00 pm, all broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event.
Formula 1 returns to Monza for Ferrari’s home race, with the Italian Grand Prix live at 2 pm on Sky Sports F1. Viewers can stream the coverage via NOW, with no contract and the ability to cancel at any time.