Italian GP: Pierre Gasly stuns Monza again with his first-ever pole position

MONZA, Italy (AP) — Alpine's Pierre Gasly claimed his first-ever pole position in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday.

The F1 driver seemed as surprised as everyone when he was informed on the team radio immediately after the session.

“Let’s go! Been waiting for that one!” exclaimed Gasly, who took his only Formula 1 win at Monza in 2020.

Gasly looked strong throughout the session and finished O.060 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell, with Oscar Piastri qualifying in third.

“In the end it felt like a very good lap but I am so happy, it has been nine years, trying to chase and get the opportunity to get pole position," Gasly said. "To win my first race in Monza, get my first pole position on this track, it is something special around here.”

Piastri could face a grid penalty as he has been called before the stewards, who are investigating whether he impeded Red Bull's Liam Lawson in Q2.

There was a scare for Ferrari at its home race as Lewis Hamilton only just sneaked into Q3 by one thousandth of a second but he will start Sunday's race in fifth, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

Max Verstappen was sixth while championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualified seventh-fastest but a grid penalty due to a planned engine change means he will start at the back.

Franco Colapinto moves up to seventh, with defending champion Lando Norris, Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto now rounding out the top 10 on the grid.

Antonelli is bidding to become F1’s youngest champion. The 20-year-old Italian leads Russell and Hamilton by 59 points, with Norris 24 points further back.

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Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain steers his car during the third free practice ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, right, congratulates Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France, left, for his pole position after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France celebrates his pole position after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Anna Szilagyi/Pool Photo via AP)

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France celebrates his pole position after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A Greek air force jet crashed at an air show north of Athens on Saturday, killing the two pilots, officials said, as thousands of people were in attendance at the event.

A fire after the crash sent up large plumes of black smoke. There were no injuries among the spectators. The crash of the twin-seat Phantom F4 jet occurred during a low-altitude maneuver.

Air force officials in Greece said the bodies of the two pilots were located during a rescue operation, hampered in the early stages by the fire on the grounds of Tanagra air force base, 60 kilometers (about 40 miles) north of Athens.

Eleven water-dropping planes and helicopters assisted 85 firefighters in an effort to contain the blaze, which remained at some distance from the viewing area at Athens Flying Week, an annual air show.

Organizers canceled remaining events planned over the weekend, while the fire prompted an evacuation order in an area near the base.

Video footage of the crash showed a plume of smoke rising from the point of the impact followed by a larger, second explosion that occurred nearby as the plane broke apart.

Cyprus' Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas said that he had called his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, to express the condolences of his government.

“It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of the two officers of the Hellenic Air Force, who lost their lives in the tragic accident that occurred during the air show at Tanagra Air Base,” Palmas wrote in an online post.

Spectators watch as smoke rises after a Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed, during the Athens Flying Week airshow at Tanagra Air Force Base, north of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Kallista Allaway)

Smoke rises after a Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed, during the Athens Flying Week airshow at Tanagra Air Force Base, north of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Kallista Allaway)

Smoke rises after a Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed, during the Athens Flying Week airshow at Tanagra Air Force Base, north of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo)

Spectators watch as smoke rises after a Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed, during the Athens Flying Week airshow at Tanagra Air Force Base, north of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Kallista Allaway)