MONZA, Italy — Alpine driver Pierre Gasly secured his maiden Formula 1 pole position as he pipped George Russell in qualifying to line up first for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix.

UPDATE 3-Motor racing-Alpine's Gasly seizes first career F1 pole ahead of Russell at Monza

Pierre Gasly earned his first F1 pole position on Saturday with a stellar qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix. The French Alpine racer hasn't finished higher than sixth this season, though his one career win on the circuit back in 2020 came in this same race.

Pierre Gasly is officially starting from pole position for the first time in his Formula 1 career, but the rest of the starting order for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix has been completely scrambled by the stewards.

Follow live text updates and listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 commentary of qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.

Last season, McLaren used it to put Lando Norris on provisional pole position with Oscar Piastri giving his teammate his slipstream. However, moments later Verstappen, who did not use tow from his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, stormed through to claim pole position by 0.077s, setting a new lap record in the process.

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of the first hour of running, a tenth and a half ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton – both on medium tyres – and three tenths ahead of George Russell in third, with Liam Lawson going fourth in the Red Bull.

All the latest ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season returning this weekend with the Italian Grand Prix in Monza