Audi aims to replicate Alpine’s success following Gasly’s Monza pole

Audi racing director Allan McNish has identified Pierre Gasly’s pole position for Alpine at the Italian Grand Prix as a key lesson for the team. Gasly’s performance at Monza was a significant surprise in the 2026 Formula 1 season, marking the first pole position of the year achieved by a team other than McLaren or the Mercedes works team.

McNish noted that Alpine demonstrated consistent speed throughout the qualifying session, rather than just a single fast lap in Q3. While Audi struggled on the high-speed Monza circuit, the team is analyzing how Alpine successfully capitalized on their opportunity. McNish emphasized that Audi must be prepared to seize similar opportunities when they arise in their battle against direct midfield rivals.