Pierre Gasly vaulted to a shocking pole position at Monza, outpacing George Russell by a razor‑thin 0.060 seconds in the final moments of qualifying.
Monza Qualifying Surprise
The Frenchman, who won his only F1 race in 2020 at the same circuit, clinched his first pole after nine years of drivers’ experience. Gasly edged Russell by 0.060 seconds in the closing minutes, a margin that left the Mercedes camp stunned. The result marks the highest finish for Gasly since joining the sport, solidifying his place once again in front of the start‑grid.
Chess Match Turns Head‑to‑Head
Shortly before qualifying, the pair competed online on Chess.com, with Russell admitting that Gasly had earlier outplayed him in a chess match. “I was frustrated not to get the pole after losing you to a chess game,” Russell said, reflecting that the on‑track duel mirrored the board battle. Gasly, surprised to learn of Russell’s chess obsession on Friday, admitted the two had exchanged ids and played a couple of games before the session, describing himself as “obsessed” with the game.
Performance coach Ben Thorne shared a joke with Gasly during the break, “You’ll beat George, but he’ll get you in a few minutes.” Gasly responded with confidence, “I was picking piece after piece, felt pretty good.” The story connects the two disciplines of strategy, underscoring how quick thinking translates from the board to the track.
Beyond the Track
Other F1 figures have embraced chess off duty. Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are known to play, merging mental agility with high‑speed racing. “We have a few in the paddock who love it,” Gasly noted, hinting that chess is part of a driver’s broader skill set.
In the 2026 season, Gasly’s Monza pole signals a new rhythm: a driver who can blend strategic chess moves with on‑track precision to carve out advantage.
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