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 has managed to turn the disappointment into a spectacular comeback by clinching pole position for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Alpine driver secured his first ever Formula 1 pole just one day after the FIA International Court of Appeal reinstated the five‑second pit‑lane speeding penalties that had been stripped from him earlier in the week.
This reversal has set the stage for one of the most surprising moments in recent F1 history, and it arrives at a circuit that holds special meaning for Gasly, who won his sole Grand Prix victory there in 2020. "I've been in Formula 1 for nine years, giving everything I have every weekend, and you don't often get a car that can fight for pole," Gasly said after his qualifying run. "Today was one of those rare occasions, and I’m incredibly proud to have taken advantage of it.
It was a fantastic lap." His emotions have been raw both on and off the track, especially after learning that appeals from McLaren and Red Bull had succeeded in reinstating the two five‑second penalties for speeding in the pit lane. In June, Alpine had successfully appealed those penalties, arguing that a mis‑measurement of the pit‑lane distance meant Gasly had not actually exceeded the speed limit. The driver expressed his frustration on French channel Canal+, declaring, "We’re being robbed, and I don’t think this ends here." Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore even questioned the impartiality of the judges at the FIA International Court of Appeal, prompting a response from the ICA that it remains confident in the integrity of its proceedings.
The controversy seemed to light a fire under Gasly, who delivered what many observers are calling the best lap of his nine‑year career. He acknowledged that the appeal drama was "not nice," but he tried to channel it into extra motivation.
"I try to turn everything into something positive," he explained, adding that he could have performed equally well without the added pressure, but the situation certainly gave him an additional boost. Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen told Sky Sports F1 that the team’s morale had been low after the Monaco decision, which he described as something that would "annoy me for the rest of my life." He praised the pole as a perfect way to bounce back, calling it "lovely" and a testament to the team's resilience. Other drivers quickly congratulated Gasly on his achievement. George Russell, who will line up alongside him on the front row for Sunday's race, recounted a light‑hearted moment before qualifying when the two were playing a quick game of chess.
"We were finishing a game of chess about fifteen minutes before qualifying and he beat me," Russell said, "so I thought, ‘Well, I’ll beat you on the track,’ and here we are – he’s ahead of me again. Huge congrats to him; Pierre and Alpine have been super‑fast from Q1." Gasly’s lone Formula 1 victory also came at Monza, a win that was especially emotional because it arrived a year after the tragic death of his close friend Anthoine Hubert. Now, with a pole position in hand, he has a genuine chance to add a second win to his résumé, something that would be a remarkable storyline for the French driver. Alpine’s performance at Monza has been impressive thanks to the combination of a Mercedes power unit and a low‑drag aerodynamic package that excels on the high‑speed straights.
The circuit’s long, energy‑rich layout often leads teams to adopt varied power‑unit deployment strategies, creating the “yo‑yo” racing pattern that fans enjoyed earlier in the season. This strategic complexity could allow Gasly to either keep Russell behind him or stay ahead of the Mercedes driver, depending on how the race unfolds. When asked by Sky Sports F1 if he believed a win was within reach, Gasly responded confidently: "Why not? I’ll do everything I can tonight, preparing for tomorrow.
The good thing is I know what it feels like to have no one in front of you on this track, so if I start from pole, I’m happy to be there." Meanwhile, championship leader Kimi Antonelli (note: likely a typo for Kimi Räikkönen) will start from the back of the grid due to penalties, meaning a strong performance from Russell could narrow his 59‑point deficit to teammate Mercedes driver. Russell added, "It’s going to be an interesting fight with Pierre as well. They have a car with great straight‑line speed, which will be advantageous.
I don’t know exactly where the battle will be tomorrow, but I’m confident I have the pace to go for the win." The race weekend schedule includes a full programme of support series: an F3 feature race at 7:10 am, an F2 feature race at 8:40 am, a Porsche Supercup race at 10:40 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm. The Italian Grand Prix itself will start at 2:00 pm, with post‑race analysis and reactions slated for later in the afternoon.
The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can stream via NOW without a long‑term contract. This Monza showdown promises drama, high‑speed action, and perhaps a redemption story for Pierre Gasly, who is eager to prove that the Monaco penalty controversy was merely a stepping stone to greater success.