News Summary
- George Russell missed out on pole by just 0.060s to Pierre Gasly at the 2026 Italian GP.
- The Mercedes driver revealed that Gasly had already beaten him at chess about 15 minutes before qualifying.
- Russell said he was disappointed not to take pole but praised Gasly and Alpine after their surprise performance at Monza.
George Russell tried to take his defeat by Pierre Gasly at the Italian Grand Prix with a sense of humour. Beaten by just 0.060s in qualifying at Monza on Saturday (September 5), the Mercedes driver revealed that the Alpine man had already beaten him once earlier in the day — over a game of chess.
Russell had entered the weekend as one of the favourites for pole after Mercedes showed strong pace during Friday practice. The Briton topped FP2 and remained competitive in FP3, reinforcing the impression that he would be one of the main contenders for the front of the grid. Russell sees Monza as “greater opportunity” for Mercedes win
And for much of qualifying, the #63 appeared on course to deliver. Russell was still fastest in Q3 when the clock expired, having set a 1:21.929.
Alpine, however, produced a stunning final run with Gasly. The Frenchman had been third before the final attempts, just 0.072s off the provisional pole time, but found enough time on his final lap to set a 1:21.786 and snatch pole from Russell.
The result left Russell with another narrow defeat — but he was able to laugh about it.
“Congratulations to Pierre on that incredible performance. We were finishing a game of chess about 15 minutes before qualifying, and he beat me. So I thought, ‘I hope I can beat you in qualifying.’ And here we are, with him ahead again,” Russell said.
The Mercedes driver admitted he was disappointed to miss out on pole, but pointed to a difficult moment involving Max Verstappen as another factor in his final qualifying attempt.
“I’m a little bit disappointed not to get pole position. I had a little bit of a tricky moment with Verstappen, when we started the lap very close together. But since Q1, Pierre and Alpine were very fast, so it was still a good result,” Russell added.
The result was a significant turnaround from Friday, when Russell had looked like the driver to beat. He topped FP2 with a 1:22.559, finishing 0.120s ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Mercedes had appeared to have a strong package for both qualifying and the race. Russell edges Leclerc to lead tight Italian GP FP2 as Verstappen struggles
Instead, Gasly delivered one of the biggest qualifying surprises of the season and secured the first pole of his F1 career.
For Russell, however, second place still puts him in a strong position for Sunday’s race. He will start alongside Gasly on the front row, with Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc behind them.
The result also continues Russell’s strong championship campaign. The Mercedes driver arrived at Monza second in the Drivers’ Championship on 183 points, while team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the standings with 242.
Gasly, meanwhile, will attempt to complete an extraordinary Monza weekend with a second F1 victory at the circuit. The Alpine driver won the 2020 Italian GP with AlphaTauri and has now added his maiden pole at the same venue. Gasly warns Monza will “lose some of its charm” under F1’s 2026 rules
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, September 6, at 3:00 p.m. local time at Monza. Italian GP 2026: F1 schedule, session times and how to watch Monza
GRANDE PRÊMIO accompanies all the action from the Italian GP, the 13th round of the 2026 season.
FAQ
1. Why did George Russell miss out on pole at the Italian GP?
Russell set a 1:21.929 in Q3 but could not improve on his final attempt. Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, produced a 1:21.786 to beat the Mercedes driver by 0.060s.
2. Did George Russell really play chess with Pierre Gasly before qualifying?
Yes. Russell said the two drivers had finished a chess game approximately 15 minutes before qualifying, with Gasly winning. Russell joked that he hoped to get revenge on track, but Gasly beat him again by taking pole.
3. What is George Russell’s starting position for the 2026 Italian GP?
Russell starts second, alongside pole-sitter Pierre Gasly on the front row. Oscar Piastri starts third and Charles Leclerc fourth.
