Italian GP: Gasly on pole from Russell with Antonelli at the back
Quick summary
Pierre Gasly secured pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with George Russell joining him on the front row, while Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid.
What happened
Pierre Gasly claimed a surprise pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in Round 13 of the 2026 Formula 1 season. George Russell will line up alongside him on the front row for Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli, Russell's Mercedes teammate, will start from the rear of the grid, a significant blow to his race prospects. The qualifying result reshuffles expectations for the race, with Alpine's pace at Monza standing out and Mercedes's mixed grid positions creating an unusual scenario for the Silver Arrows.
Chance analysis
Gasly's pole at Monza is one of the headline qualifying results of the 2026 season, putting Alpine at the sharp end on one of F1's most iconic circuits where straight-line speed and slipstreaming traditionally matter most. Russell locking out the front row keeps Mercedes firmly in the hunt, but Antonelli starting from the back adds a layer of intrigue — Mercedes will be managing two very different races on Sunday. The contrast between Gasly's breakthrough and Antonelli's nightmare session sets up a fascinating Italian GP with strategic variables throughout the field.
Gasly and Alpine are boosted by pole, Russell and Mercedes remain strong contenders from the front row, while Antonelli faces a recovery drive from the back of the grid.