16:24
Ferrari had hoped for more. They're dressing it up in a positive light, but the team does not come to Monza to not be right at the front.
Gasly takes pole for Monza
© XPB Images
F1 Monza LIVE: Reaction after Gasly takes shock Italian GP pole
Live coverage of Saturday at the F1 Italian Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Antonelli and Lawson set for back-of-the-grid starts
- George Russell fastest in FP2 and FP3
- Gasly's Monaco F1 penalty reapplied
The 13th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Temple of Speed will be bathed in Ferrari Rosso for the weekend, but this colouring is likely to be broken up by fans sporting home hero Kimi Antonelli's merchandise.
The Mercedes driver arrives at Monza with a 59-point advantage over both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, but faces a tough task on Sunday, as an engine penalty, confirmed by his team, will see him start from the back of the grid.
Ferrari has brought its upgraded power unit to the track for the first time, in a bid to close the gap on front-runners Mercedes and McLaren, with Lando Norris having triumphed on the last two weekends for the latter. McLaren has also debuted its rotating rear wing, which it has called the H-Wing.
Super-clipping is expected to be a significant issue this weekend, especially on the run to Turn 1 in the race, with energy being spent down the back straight, no heavy braking for the Parabolica, and the main straight immediately following. How drivers manage their energy will be more crucial than ever this weekend.
Ferrari set the early pace on Friday with Charles Leclerc leading a Ferrari 1-2 in FP1, before Geroge Russell moved Mercedes to the top in the later session.
2026 Italian Grand Prix Saturday schedule
FP3 11:30am BST - 12:30pm BST
Qualifying: 3:00pm BST - 4:00pm BST
05 Sep 2026
16:22
Russell will still fancy his chances for Sunday, but Gasly will be in no mind to give up the lead without a fight.
16:20
With all of the focus rightly on Gasly, its easy to forget the brilliance of Colapinto in qualifying, as he delivered P8. On any other day, that result would be cheered into the evening.
16:18
A 1000/1 shot for pole position. The definition of a shock result!
16:17
Pierre Gasly beats George Russell to claim stunning first F1 pole at Italian GP
Pierre Gasly beats George Russell to claim stunning first F1 pole at Italian GP
Pierre Gasly pulled off the shock of the 2026 Formula 1 season so far by claiming a stunning maiden pole position at the Italian Grand Prix.
Mercedes was expected to be the team to beat in qualifying at Monza but Gasly shocked everyone with an incredible last-gasp effort to snatch an unlikely pole for Alpine at the death.
Pierre Gasly celebrates his shock F1 pole
16:16
F1 2026 Italian Grand Prix: Full qualifying result at Monza
F1 2026 Italian Grand Prix: Full qualifying result at Monza
Pierre Gasly took a shock pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, and will start at the front of the grid for the first time in Formula 1.
Gasly scored his first pole position with a last-gasp effort at Monza. The lap was enough to displace Mercedes driver George Russell, who is looking to close the points gap on team-mate Kimi Antonelli this weekend.
Gasly charges to Monza pole
© XPB Images
16:05
Wow, wow, wow. That really was something.
16:04
"Let's go. Let's go. I've been waiting for that one!" Gasly is over the moon with that result, it's fair to say!
"Amazing. Thank you very much. Very well managed. Oh, that was good. I like this track."
16:02
Pierre Gasly has pole position for Alpine at Monza! A 1m21.786s gives the Alpiune driver a shock career first pole position!
16:01
Russell improves with a 1m21.846, but GASLY TAKES POLE!
16:00
Norris takes the flag and does not improve.
16:00
Piastri was the first driver to start a lap but he locked up at Turn 1 and his lap was over the moment it began. Its a problem for Norris too, as he now has no tow for his lap.
15:58
McLaren blink first. Lindblad forces his way out ahead of the Ferrari pair. The Alpine pair will be the final drivers to cross the line.
15:57
The blankets come off, the revs rise, and out come the drivers for the final time in qualifying!
15:56
One more run to come, and we have less than five minutes on the clock.
15:54
Antonelli goes sixth with his effort. He will now revert back to providing a tow for Russell.
15:52
Antonelli has come out again already. He will likely look to set his time on a clear track before once again providing a tow for Russell.
15:51
A 1m21.929s for Russell as he puts in his first Q3 lap. Piastri goes second. Gasly again shows well in P3 as Leclerc goes fourth. Hamilton is nowhere in eighth - and that high only because Antonelli did not set a time.
15:49
The first laps of the session are beginning and Russell is absolutely flying. Antonelli is once again giving him a tow.
15:48
Q3 underway
Q3 has begin and Hamilton has been held back by Ferrari to get a distance between him and the rest of the pack.
15:43
Even worse for Ferrari, Leclerc in ninth made it through only by 0.008s.
15:42
Hamilton made it through by just 0.001s.
At Red Bull, Lawson is fuming at his team. "You just left me out to dry," he complains.
15:41
Bottom six in Q2
But Hamilton survives! JUST. The bottom six in Q2 are:
11. Bortoleto
12. Bearman
13. Hulkenberg
14. Lawson
15. Sainz
16. Ocon
15:40
Leclerc remains ninth and Hamilton goes to 10th only!
15:40
The incident between Piastri and Lawson has been noted, but that would be very harsh.