Defending world champion and current series leader Lewis Hamilton secured his maiden pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix when he topped yesterday’s qualifying times ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.
It was the 30-year-old Briton’s first success on the streets of his favorite circuit and came at the ninth attempt as he outpaced Rosberg in a tight contest to claim the 43rd pole of his career.
Two-time champion Hamilton clocked a final best lap in 1 minute, 15.09 seconds, 0.3 seconds clear of Rosberg and fellow German Sebastian Vettel, who was third for Ferrari ahead of the two Red Bulls of Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Russian Daniil Kvyat.
Photo: Reuters
Finn Kimi Raikkonen, who crashed during a morning practice session, was sixth in the second Ferrari ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India, Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Lotus and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, who was 10th in the second Toro Rosso.
Hamilton struggled to find his best form through the first two parts of qualifying before hitting his rhythm in the final top-10 shootout.
Rosberg was quickest in the first two mini-sessions, but made minor errors under pressure when he twice locked up at the Ste Devote corner.
Photo: Reuters
Hamilton’s success ended Rosberg’s hopes of claiming a hat-trick of successive poles in the Mediterranean principality and gives him a good opportunity to stop the German recording a third straight win in today’s 78-lap race.
After winning three of this year’s opening five races, Hamilton holds a 20-point lead over Rosberg in the drivers’ championship.
The 3.34km Monaco track is the shortest in Formula One and also the slowest, with a succession of tight, sinewy turns and claustrophobic barriers making the circuit the toughest to overtake on.
In practice, Raikkonen went too wide on a turn and the left rear wheel of his Ferrari clipped a barrier.
Verstappen also had some problems as the rear of his Toro Rosso hit a barrier on the final turn.
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