Pierre Gasly still feels the sting of what he calls a "robbery" after losing his podium finish at the June Monaco Grand Prix, but he managed to turn that frustration into a spectacular achievement by securing pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Alpine driver’s pole is a dramatic reversal of fortunes, especially considering that just a day earlier the FIA International Court of Appeal reinstated his pit‑lane speeding penalties from Monaco. By converting that setback into his first ever Formula 1 pole, Gasly has delivered one of the most surprising moments in recent F1 history. The pole comes at a particularly emotional time for the Frenchman.
Six years after his lone career victory – the 2020 Italian Grand Prix – Gasly now finds himself back at Monza with a genuine chance to add a second win to his résumé. He believes the decision to reinstate the penalties was a misjudgement and sees his pole as a form of redemption.
"It’s been nine years in Formula 1, giving my all every weekend, and we don’t always have a car that can fight for pole," Gasly said after the session. "Today it was different, and I’m incredibly proud to have taken advantage of the opportunity.
It was a fantastic lap." Gasly’s emotions have run high throughout the weekend. After learning that both McLaren and Red Bull had appealed the Monaco result, his two five‑second penalties for alleged pit‑lane speeding were reinstated, despite Alpine’s earlier successful review that had cleared him on the basis of an incorrect pit‑lane distance measurement. In an interview with Canal+, Gasly declared, "We’re being robbed, and I don’t think this will end here." Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore even questioned the impartiality of the FIA International Court of Appeal, prompting a response from the ICA that defended the integrity of its judges and the soundness of its procedures.
Rather than let the controversy derail him, Gasly used it as extra motivation. He described the situation surrounding the appeal as "not nice," but explained that he tried to channel the frustration into something positive. "I try to turn everything I can into extra motivation, but I think I could have done without it this weekend," he admitted.
Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen echoed the sentiment, telling Sky Sports F1, "The mood after Monaco was terrible – it will annoy me for the rest of my life – so to bounce back with a pole is wonderful." Other drivers quickly congratulated Gasly on his achievement. George Russell, who will line up beside him on the front row, recalled a light‑hearted moment just before qualifying when the two were playing a game of chess. "We were finishing a chess game about fifteen minutes before qualifying and he beat me, so I thought, ‘Well, I’ll beat you on the track.’ And here we are, he’s ahead of me again," Russell laughed, adding, "Huge congrats to Pierre – Alpine have been blisteringly quick from Q1." The pole is especially significant given Gasly’s personal history at Monza.
His sole F1 victory came at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, a race that took place a year after the tragic death of his close friend Anthoine Hubert. Now, with a strong low‑drag Alpine equipped with a Mercedes power unit, he has another unexpected shot at a second win. The car’s straight‑line speed and aerodynamic efficiency suit Monza’s high‑speed layout, where teams will also be juggling different power‑unit deployment strategies to manage the circuit’s energy‑rich nature.
These strategies could lead to the “yo‑yo” style of racing seen earlier in the season, where drivers swap positions repeatedly as fuel loads and ERS settings change. If Gasly can keep his pace, he may be able to hold off Russell, or perhaps engage in a close battle if the Mercedes driver manages to stay ahead on the start‑line. When asked by Sky Sports F1 whether a victory was within reach, Gasly replied confidently, "Why not? I’ll do everything I can tonight, prepared for tomorrow.
The advantage of starting from pole at Monza is huge – you’re clear of traffic, and that makes a big difference." The race weekend will also feature a packed schedule of support categories, including an F3 feature race, an F2 feature race, and a Porsche Supercup event, all leading up to the main Grand Prix. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid due to penalties, opening the door for a potential shake‑up in the points standings.
A win for Russell would significantly cut his 59‑point deficit to teammate Mercedes driver, adding another layer of intrigue to the showdown. In summary, Gasly’s pole at Monza is more than just a fast lap; it represents a personal statement of resilience after a controversial penalty reversal, a strategic advantage for a team that has found a sweet spot in the car’s aerodynamic and power‑unit package, and a tantalising opportunity for the French driver to claim a second Grand Prix victory on a circuit that already holds a special place in his career. As the sun sets over the historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see whether Gasly can convert his pole into a win and finally put the Monaco "robbery" behind him.