New Delhi, Sept. 5 -- Pierre Gasly produced the biggest qualifying shock of the Formula 1 season on Saturday, snatching his first career pole for the Italian Grand Prix and the first pole in Alpine's history. The Frenchman beat George Russell by just 0.060 seconds around Monza, with Oscar Piastri third, after a late slipstream shootout that left the usual frontrunners stunned.

Gasly's 1:21.786 lap came in his ninth full season. He is 10th in the championship, and Alpine sit sixth, so this was no dress rehearsal. Monza has always been kind to him. He won his only Grand Prix here in 2020 with AlphaTauri. This time the pole was earned on raw pace, not a well-timed pit stop.

(More to follow)

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