Why F1 pole shocks like Gasly's are close to extinct

Pierre Gasly secured pole position for Alpine at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, marking one of the biggest qualifying shocks in recent Formula 1 history. It was achieved on merit in normal dry conditions, making it particularly notable — over the past decade, only two other drivers outside the top four teams (Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull) had taken pole, those being Kevin Magnussen at the 2022 Brazilian GP sprint and Lance Stroll at the 2020 Turkish GP, both aided by unusual conditions. The article highlights how rare such results are and questions whether it will happen again anytime soon.