How many superlatives do you need?

Pierre Gasly, a man who was 1000-1 to nab pole position ahead of this weekend...did just that.

And even sweeter for the Frenchman is that he achieved that feat 24 hours after he was stripped of his podium at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this season.

But can he turn that pole into a win?

We'll be back tomorrow from 13:00 BST to find out.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly speaking to Sky Sports on bouncing back and emotional rollercoasters: "Story of my life. I could have done without that news yesterday. But, honestly it is a different story. For now it is just pure emotions and it is just nice, putting a lot of hard work out there and when it is rewarded that way it is priceless emotions so that is why I do it and very excited for tomorrow."

Alpine's Pierre Gasly, speaking to Sky Sports about whether he can win the race: "Why not? I know it. Again, odds aren't going to be with me but we are not here for the odds, we are here to be giving our best and can be sure I will do everything I can tonight, coming prepared for tomorrow and the good thing is I know what it looks like not having anyone in front of you on this track. So at least, if there is a place to start on pole, I am glad it is around here. You can be sure I will give my best shot.

"There is so much unknown but I am not going to lie, it is Formula 1, you cannot control everything. I will just try to do as good as I can. A lot of unknown, I don't know where we are going to finish tomorrow. Hopefully we can hold on there for as long as possible."

More from Lewis Hamilton: "I think we have a really great car. It's all Mercedes engines up ahead of us and I think we've done a good job to be as close to them as we are. But they ultimately are still gaining several tenths on the straight and that is what it is. We have to just do the best we can. We're hoping for tracks that don't rely too much on power hopefully in the future. I'm really grateful to the guys back in the factory because they did bring an upgrade here, they are really pushing, this is just the situation we're in."

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying P5 for his team's home race: "It was definitely very, very tough. The car felt really good in practice and then in qualifying I didn't change anything so it felt good going into Q1 - and Q1 was solid. We sat and waited in the pit lane for the first part of Q2 and for some reason we just didn't have the pace. Whether it was tyre pressure or tyre temperature I'm not sure, so we'll have to look into that. Execution in Q3 was pretty bad. I ended up out in the middle of nowhere with nobody. When you're following another car you arrive several kilometres faster into a corner so the braking distances adjust so it's all about getting into rhythm and I got really out of rhythm for Q3 run one and then Q3 run two, it wasn't a terrible lap but as I said, the references were all different."

Alpine's Pierre Gasly speaking to Sky Sports about his pole position: "I don't know what is going on with that place in Monza. I got my first win here, obviously aways a special place in my heart but coming here this morning we were aiming at Q3.

"I felt good this morning in the car, I felt good in quali and through Q1 I found myself in P1, P1, I thought bit odd but others are going to turn it up but then just carried the form and that last lap I managed to squeeze everything out of it and I am extremely pleased. Nine years in F1 and still didn't have a pole.

"I think in quali I am usually putting in strong laps but never been in the position to fight for pole and today is different, I am extremely grateful for for the whole team and the car I had today."

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli speaking to Sky Sports about his role today helping his team-mate: "It's what I have to do. The team asked me and of course I did what I had to do, I tried to help as much as possible. It's a bit weird going in two, even the lap I did alone was a bit of a weird feeling. Overall with the penalty today I had to be a good team-mate and I had to help as much as I could. I think I did a good job with that and happy it worked out."

On his start at the back of the grid for Sunday's race: "We're going to try to stay out of trouble in the first two chicanes and then obviously try to clear the traffic as quickly as possible in the first few laps and try to chase the faster cars."

Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen on the change in mood over the weekend: "Today, right now? Yes [Happy where the team is]. But if you asked me two or three days ago, we were on the floor. It is really from being down to being on top of the world in just two days and it is amazing, we need to soak it up and make the best of it."

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist at Monza

I found a spot to watch qualifying between Turns Seven and Eight and the Ferrari fans there were in full voice, chanting and cheering every time Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton drove past - and Kimi Antonelli got some strong applause, too.

But once Q3 started, the mood shifted, as a Scuderia pole position looked a difficult task. The stand emptied pretty quickly after fourth and fifth was confirmed - and because it was stiflingly hot - but the fans also gave a collective "Gasly?! Wow!" when the Alpine driver secured the front-row slot.

Image source, BBC Sport

Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen on whether they can win the race on Sunday: "We didn’t expect to be on pole position, we are.

"Tomorrow, good starts, good strategy, good pit stops – who knows? Let’s try to win it."

Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen told Sky Sports: "Pierre is a class act, as you say, if you give him the machine, he will deliver. We failed to do that a few times last year. We haven't always given him the most competitive machinery this year, but when we have he has delivered. Particularly earlier in the season so to see the team bounce back, to see him deliver on the track he knows well, he lives locally, he lives in Milan. It was wonderful.

"We mustn't forget Franco either, he's done a great job today. I really feel we have given them a good car, and who knows? Anything is possible tomorrow."

Alex Lynn
British racing driver on Sports Extra 2

On whether a win is realistic for Pierre Gasly and Alpine: No but I think he can fight for the podium, I think George and Oscar might be too quick, but I think he is quicker than the Ferraris.

Rebecca Clancy
F1 journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

Well, why not? Why can't [Pierre Gasly] go for the race win? He has got the same Mercedes engine in the back that Russell has. He obviously has a better chassis, certainly drove better today so I think he could be up there. I think he could be getting the podium he had taken off him in Monaco.

It's been 29 years since a Frenchman last took pole at Monza, when Jean Alesi took P1 in 1997 - incidentally also with Benetton.

It's the first pole for Alpine since they adopted that name and the first pole for the Enstone-based team since Fernando Alonso did so for Renault in 2009 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

So under their various guises over the years, this is the first pole the team's achieved in 17 years.

What a day.

Image source, Getty Images

Alpine's Pierre Gasly who will start the Italian Grand Prix on pole: "It was amazing, thank you everyone. It was an incredible quali from the first lap in Q1, felt very good in the car and trying to chip a little bit away in every session.

"In the end it felt like a very good lap but I am so happy, it has been nine years, trying to chase and get the opportunity to get pole position. To win my first race in Monza, get my first pole position on this track, it is something special around here."

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who will start Sunday's race in third: "I think the first lap felt good and I tried to see if anyone wanted to go in front out of the pit lane but no one did and I knew it was always going to be difficult and misjudged the braking a little bit and locked up. That was the session but good to have a decent result, it has been a while. I'll take it."

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes' George Russell speaking after qualifying P2 for the Italian Grand Prix: "Massive congrats to Pierre because that's an incredible performance. We were actually playing a game of chess about 15 minutes before qualifying and he beat me there and I thought 'well I think I'll beat you in qualifying' and here we are - he's ahead of me again! I was disappointed not to get pole. It was a bit messy with Verstappen opening the lap. But Pierre and Alpine have been super fast, even from Q1. Happy to see them get a good result."

Alex Lynn
British racing driver on Sports Extra 2

That one is insane, so cool to see. He has been driving well all session, Q1, Q2, Q3. That last lap, the one you need, that's what makes it special.

Pierre Gasly's pole has got me thinking that perhaps I, an out-of-shape journalist, could achieve whatever I can dream of.

Anything's possible, kids.