Pierre Gasly grabbed pole position in last‑minute Italian Grand Prix qualifying, putting the Alpine‑Alfa Romeo competitive edge into the front row for the first time this season.
Gasly’s Upset Lift in Q3
After proving quick in Q1 and placing fourth in Q2, Gasly increased the pace in his final Q3 run, out‑shining the favourite George Russell and seizing the grid’s top spot. The Frenchman had delivered exceptional lap times that matched the maximum potential of the Alpine’s package, a performance that surprised a grid where the fastest vehicles were still the Ferraris.
Leclerc Looks on and Gives Advice
While pulling into parc‑fermé, Charles Leclerc greeted him, and earlier that afternoon the Monegasque had helped the pole‑winner fine‑tune passes through turns 6 and 7 during the drivers’ briefing. Leclerc said he shared “a few little things” and admitted the exchange occurred without knowing Gasly’s eventual result. After seeing the time, he rushed to the car to extend his congratulations.
Alpine’s Precision Earns Praise
Leclerc lauded the Alpine squad’s coordination, citing the need to optimally extract the package within the technical limitations of the current regulations. “When every detail is perfect, the result is a huge advantage,” he told Canal+, remarking that Alpine’s execution made a noticeable difference even though the car remains the grid’s slowest.
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