F1 Italian GP Live: Gasly on pole as Piastri fights from sixth after penalty

Key PostsWho will win the Italian GP?By Latest Posts10.53pmThings you should know about Monza By Hannah KennellyIt’s 10 minutes until race time folks so grab your popcorn and settle in. While we count down, I thought I’d entertain and educate you with some fun facts about the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, or as it is affectionately dubbed, the Temple of Speed. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. AP Photo/Antonio CalanniShaped like a boot, the circuit is 5.793km with 53 laps, and has some of the best overtaking spots on the F1 calendar. The Italian fans are out in full force, however championship leader Kimi Antonelli is staring in 19th. Who will win the Italian GP?By 10.32pmWait, is that Lightning McQueen?By Hannah KennellyIt’s close to my usual bedtime, so I had to rub my eyes and blink twice when Lightning McQueen appeared at the Monza GP. Pixar’s famous car will line up alongside F1 safety car today, celebrating the anniversary of the original Cars movie, released in July 2006. Ka-chow!10.25pmWatch: Piastri cops penalty By 10.23pmAlpine’s Pierre Gasly stuns with first career F1 poleBy Pierre Gasly earned his first F1 pole position on Saturday with a stellar qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix.The French Alpine racer hasn’t finished higher than sixth this season, though his one career win on the circuit back in 2020 came in this same race.Pierre Gasly celebrates his maiden Formula 1 pole.GettyThe 30-year-old utilized a recently updated Mercedes engine to run an impressive final qualifying lap of 1:21.786, surging him past Mercedes’ George Russell (1:21.846) and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (1:21.966), who had been 1-2.Piastri was later dropped from third to sixth for impeding Liam Lawson. The penalty moved Charles Leclerc (1:22.004), Lewis Hamilton (1:22.011) and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen each up one place on the grid to third, fourth and fifth.10.20pmGood evening rev-headsBy Hannah KennellyGood evening folks and welcome back to our F1 live blog. I’m Hannah Kennelly, and I’ll be guiding you through the Monza GP. We’ve got Pierre Gasly on pole. Yes, you read that correctly… the Frenchman claimed his maiden pole position at the Italian GP on Saturday. It’s been a whirlwind few days for Gasly who was sensationally stripped of his Monaco Grand Prix podium by the FIA’s international court of appeal. Mercedes driver George Russell is in second place with Charles Leclerc in third. Australian Oscar Piastri starts in sixth after copping a three-place grid penalty for almost causing a collision with Liam Lawson. Lights out at 11pm folks. 1 of 1