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.

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

Updated: September 4, 2026 The Kimi Antonelli grid penalty will send Formula 1's championship leader to the back of the grid at his home Italian Grand Prix, but it truly does not have to wreck his title push.

French Formula ​One driver Pierre ‌Gasly grabbed a stunning career first ​pole position ​with Renault-owned Alpine at ⁠the Italian ​Grand Prix on ​Saturday.