McLaren’s Lando Norris beat residence favorite Charles Leclerc to Formulation 1 pole place on the Monaco Grand Prix as Mercedes suffered a qualifying catastrophe.
Norris appeared set to lose out to Leclerc, who had led each observe session, after the second spherical of laps in Q3. However persevering with on his set mushy tyres Norris discovered one other tenth and a half to clinch pole together with his third flyer, beating final yr’s race winner by 0.109s.
Norris’ 1m09.954s lap was a brand new monitor report across the 3.3km venue, and yielded the Briton’s first pole for the reason that opening Australian Grand Prix.
Norris had additionally led the primary run from team-mate Oscar Piastri, with the Australian finally settling for third on the grid after dropping time within the Nouvelle Chicane.
Lewis Hamilton was fourth on the grid for Ferrari, 4 tenths behind, however the seven-time world champion should be demoted after impeding Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen in Q1. Verstappen might solely handle fifth on the grid after a muted Pink Bull efficiency, seven tenths behind pole place.
Isack Hadjar was a sensational sixth for Racing Bulls, overcoming two faucets with the wall in free observe to finish up as probably the most spectacular rookie on the tough avenue circuit.
Fernando Alonso was seventh for Aston Martin, simply 0.001s behind Hadjar, with Esteban Ocon additionally excelling for Haas to clinch eighth. Liam Lawson grabbed ninth, with Williams man Alex Albon finishing the highest 10.
Q1: Antonelli crashes out
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos
Arguably crucial qualifying session of the yr, as a result of lack of overtaking choices, acquired underneath approach in sunny situations as automobiles flashed previous the glistening yachts lining Port Hercules.
Norris and Piastri led the operating, earlier than Leclerc finally topped Q1 with a 1m11.229s.
Most automobiles have been fuelled for an extended stint, utilizing cool-down laps to maintain the softs within the window. The slim margins and vital monitor evolution meant not one of the frontrunners might afford to remain within the storage on the finish.
There was stress on Lewis Hamilton to advance, having dropped to fifteenth, however the seven-time world champion did sufficient to make it to Q2.
It was Gabriel Bortoleto who was the primary to overlook out in sixteenth, adopted by Oliver Bearman, who will begin final attributable to a 10-place grid penalty for ignoring crimson flags in FP2.
Pierre Gasly was out in 18th forward of Lance Stroll and Alpine team-mate Franco Colapinto, however the Argentinian will transfer forward of Stroll attributable to a one-place penalty for the Aston driver.
The session was additionally over for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who squeezed by in fifteenth however then tagged the wall on the Nouvelle Chicane and suffered terminal injury on his Mercedes, bringing out a late crimson flag.
Q2: Russell grinds to a halt to finish Mercedes catastrophe
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos by way of Getty Photos
There was extra drama for Mercedes firstly of Q2 when George Russell reported a lack of energy after which floor to a halt within the tunnel with a suspected electrical subject, that means each Silver Arrows will begin in the direction of the rear.
After a prolonged crimson flag to do away with the stricken Mercedes, Norris led the operating forward of Verstappen and Leclerc, however occasions continued to tumble quickly.
The 4 automobiles from Ferrari and McLaren continued to commerce blows on the prime, with Verstappen third till an excellent last-ditch lap by Williams’ Albon that put him forward of the Dutchman.
Albon’s team-mate Carlos Sainz was much less profitable, rueing an absence of grip on the softs as he was pipped to the ultimate Q3 berth by Haas driver Ocon.
Yuki Tsunoda was additionally out in twelfth, complaining about impeding from Isack Hadjar, with Nico Hulkenberg and the 2 Mercedes automobiles eradicated as effectively.
Sunday’s 78-lap grand prix will likely be spiced up by the one-off mandate to run three totally different units of tyres, which is able to pressure drivers to make two pitstops to open up strategic choices.
F1 Monaco GP – Qualifying outcomes
Photographs from Monaco GP – Observe & Qualifying
On this article
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to information alerts
