Pierre Gasly believes his maiden Formula 1 pole position at Monza “brings belief and motivation” to Alpine as the team targets another strong result at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. The French driver’s surprise pole at the Italian Grand Prix marked a dramatic turnaround for the Enstone-based squad, which spent much of the 2025 season battling at the rear of the grid.
Monza Breakthrough Fuels Team Confidence
Speaking during Thursday’s media session ahead of the inaugural race at the Madring circuit, Gasly emphasized the psychological impact of the team’s breakthrough performance.
“It meant a lot to all the team, because it’s not like we’ve had easy weekends, especially coming from last year into 2026,” he said. “We put a lot of effort into this year’s car, and to actually get the reward from all that hard work from everyone was incredible.
“The smiles I could see on the faces in the garage, all the people at the factory – everyone was buzzing. I’m very pleased for all of them that we were able to do it.
“It just brings that extra confidence and boost of motivation that if we actually get everything right, this type of result — which seems unachievable — is actually possible. I think it definitely brings belief and motivation to try to do even better and repeat this type of performance.I told the guys it’s been 17 years since there was a pole for Enstone, and I’m not waiting another 17 years until we do another one. So it’s a great boost of motivation, and hopefully we can repeat that in the near future.”
New Challenge at the Madring Circuit
Drivers and teams face a completely different test this weekend at the Madring, a new venue featuring high-speed, banked corners that none of the competitors have raced on before. Gasly described the circuit as “it’s going to be a proper racing track” and shared his initial impressions from simulator work.
“I have no idea about the racing yet, but driving-wise in the simulator it was incredible, so I’m excited to see what it’s like in real life.”
Zidane Meeting Provides Extra Inspiration
Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Gasly spent time with football legend Zinedine Zidane while filming a collaborative project. The Alpine driver, a passionate football fan, revealed he sought advice from the newly appointed France national team coach following the Monza success.
“I’m a big fan of Zizou, so it’s always nice. He’s such a nice guy, and it’s always great to actually have access to him,”
Gasly said.
“He’s now the coach of our national team, so you know how much I love football. I was asking questions and trying to get a few bits of information on what’s coming.”
