Italian GP qualifying: Gasly’s shock pole headlines Monza winners and losers

Pierre Gasly produced the most surprising dry-weather pole position in over a decade at the Italian Grand Prix, putting his Alpine on top of the Monza timesheets. For Alpine, it’s a major milestone, while several frontrunners left qualifying with reasons to worry.

Why it matters:

Monza’s low-downforce layout reshuffled the order, exposing weaknesses among the championship contenders. Gasly’s pole is a statement from Alpine, while Red Bull and McLaren face setbacks that could shape Sunday’s race.

The details:

• Pierre Gasly (P1): A career first pole for the 2026 race winner. Alpine’s Zandvoort upgrade is working, with both cars showing strong pace. “The car is responding very well,” said Alpine’s Steve Nielsen.
• Max Verstappen (P6): A ride-height problem hampered his Q3 run, prompting the Dutchman to call his Red Bull “made out of paper.” He also lost slipstream help when Liam Lawson was eliminated in Q2.
• Oscar Piastri (P3, penalised): The McLaren driver will drop to sixth for blocking Lawson in Q2. He also ran wide at the first chicane in Q3, ruining the planned tow for Lando Norris.
• Kimi Antonelli (P7): The championship leader spent qualifying as Russell’s tow servant, yet still set a strong solo lap. He could be a major threat on Sunday even from the back of the grid.
• Aston Martin (P21, P22): A bruising reality check. Fernando Alonso’s car failed to start for his second Q1 run, leaving the team at the back.

What's next:

With penalties shuffling the grid, Sunday’s race at Monza is set for chaos. Antonelli will charge from the back, while Verstappen and Piastri face damage-limitation missions. Gasly, meanwhile, will aim to convert his first pole into a landmark result.