Six years after writing one of the most memorable chapters of his career in Monza, Pierre Gasly is back in the spotlight at the Lombard circuit. This time, not with a victory, but with the first pole position of his Formula 1 career. And as a reward, he has the Queen’s Ring placed on his finger — the award celebrating the driver who sets the fastest qualifying lap at the Italian Grand Prix. The ring was presented to him at the end of qualifying by Debora Massari, Councillor for Tourism of the Lombardy Region, and Paolo Pilotto, Mayor of Monza.

The Alpine driver stopped the clock at 1:21.786, at an average speed of 254.992 km/h, edging George Russell by just 60 thousandths of a second. The Mercedes driver finished second with a time of 1:21.846. It was a pole position decided by the tiniest of margins, and achieved at a place that Gasly has always held close to his heart.

It was in 2020, when he was still driving for AlphaTauri, that the Frenchman claimed his only Formula 1 victory in Monza. Today, six years later, he is an Alpine driver, with Flavio Briatore at the helm of the team, but his bond with the city and the surrounding area has not changed. Gasly has long lived in the heart of Milan, and it was in Monza that he added one of the most important achievements of his career.

Russell will therefore start alongside him on the front row, while third place went to Oscar Piastri, who set a 1:21.966 in the McLaren. The Australian, however, was handed a three-place grid penalty, opening the door for Ferrari to occupy the second row.

Defending the colours of the Prancing Horse will be Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, ready to turn Sunday’s race into a great sea of red in front of the grandstands at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

It will also be a Sunday to remember for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian talent, leader of the World Championship, finished qualifying seventh with a time of 1:22.758, but will be forced to start from the penultimate row of the grid because of the penalty imposed following a Power Unit replacement. His qualifying session was therefore overshadowed by a sanction that makes the challenge awaiting him in the race even more spectacular: a major comeback from the back of the field.

Now in its third edition, the Queen’s Ring has already become one of the defining events of the Monza Grand Prix weekend.

The ring is inspired by the Iron Crown, a symbol deeply connected to Lombardy’s history, and incorporates several of its elements through references to the chequered flag and the colours of the Italian flag, enhanced with precious stones set into the design.

It is a one-of-a-kind piece, created exclusively for the Italian Grand Prix and personalised for the winner. Before Gasly, it had already been worn by Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

Gasly’s pole position has further heightened anticipation for tomorrow’s race, when Monza will once again turn red. The grandstands are ready to cheer on Ferrari, while also getting behind Antonelli as he faces the difficult task of fighting his way back from the rear of the grid.

And the spectacle will begin well before the lights go out.

On the grid will be Laura Pausini, one of Italy’s best-known and most beloved artists worldwide, winner of a Grammy Award, five Latin Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe.

After the traditional drivers’ parade, the spotlight will turn to the parachutists of the 1st Carabinieri Paratroopers Regiment “Tuscania”, who will jump over the circuit carrying the flags of Italy, Formula 1 and the ACI.

Following their success in 2024, tenor Francesco Meli, one of the leading figures on the international opera scene, will once again perform the “Canto degli Italiani”, accompanied by the Italian Army Military Band.

At the end of the national anthem will come one of the most eagerly awaited moments of Monza Sunday: the spectacular flyover of the starting grid by the Frecce Tricolori, the National Aerobatic Team of the Italian Air Force.

Finally, this year too, the 22 protagonists of the World Championship will be accompanied onto the grid by young representatives of the Maria Letizia Verga Foundation, which provides support to children and young people affected by haematological and oncological diseases, as well as metabolic and genetic conditions requiring highly complex treatment.

Today, meanwhile, eight months after the tragedy on New Year’s Eve in Crans-Montana, Automobile Club Milano made a simple yet meaningful gesture by welcoming some of the young survivors to Monza, giving them the opportunity to spend a day together immersed in sport and passion.