"Definitely exceeded all our expectations": Gasly reflects on first pole position
- Maham Mir
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Having set the pace from the opening laps in Q1, Alpine's Pierre Gasly rounded off qualifying for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix by taking his first career pole position. On the track where he won his first, and till date only, Grand Prix in 2020, the French driver wrote himself into the history books yet again at the Temple of Speed.
Discussing the pole position, Gasly was quickly to note that there were "quite a lot of emotions" for himself and his team as they were not expecting to be fighting at the front this weekend. The French driver explained that "we [Alpine] were a bit surprised to see us up there" especially as "our target was Q3". Despite having ended the first part of qualifying as the fastest car on track, Gasly "didn't want to get too excited" and only started to believe in his "first run in Q3".
However, even with the surprise of being at the front, Gasly was clear that this was "something special" for him. With this pole position, Gasly became the first French driver in 29 years to line-up at the front since Jean Alessi. Additionally, he recorded the 37th pole position for the Enstone team and its first pole position since the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Looking ahead to the race, Gasly was clear that he only needs "to focus on my driving" and utilising the "good advantage" he has with his race-winning experience from 2020. Although Alpine, in Gasly's words, don't have "the pace of these guys around us", he was optimistic that the team will "obviously give our best shot".
On a weekend where he was stripped of his podium from the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, there can be no doubt that Gasly will be hoping to turn the narrative around with a successful result in Sunday's Grand Prix. With 53 laps between himself and the chequered flag, it'll be the race down to Turn 1 and beyond which determine if Gasly can find race-winning glory once again.
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