Pierre Gasly takes shock pole for F1 Italian GP as Alpine stun big guns

• Landmark for Frenchman at his 190th meeting

• Russell on front row, Hamilton fifth on grid

Pierre Gasly has run the gamut from bitter disappointment to absolute elation in the past two days, and there is surely no better pick-me-up than claiming an extraordinary first Formula One pole position at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, one of the sport’s greatest venues.

What it meant to the Frenchman was clear. “Nine years I’ve been in Formula One, I’m trying to give my best every single weekend. It’s not every time we get a car to fight for pole position,” he said. “Today was the case. I’m really happy, really proud to have seized this chance and made it work. It was a hell of a lap.”

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