Lando Norris takes pole for Monaco Grand Prix in huge boost to title hopes but Mercedes duo suffer qualifying nightmare
LANDO NORRIS took a sensational pole position in Monaco in front of actress and model girlfriend Margarida Corceiro.
The British McLaren driver, 25, has not taken pole position since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but turned up when it mattered most.
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His girlfriend, Portugal's Margarida, was spotted in the McLaren garage cheering him over the line as he nicked it in the dying seconds of Q3 over home favourite Charles Leclerc.
It rained on the parade of Monaco-born Leclerc who won his home race last season but qualified in second.
Oscar Piastri came third and Lewis Hamilton bagged fourth after crashing in the dying seconds of FP3 earlier on, while Max Verstappen had to settle for fifth.
Monaco is the jewel in F1's crown, dripping in glitz and glamour which keeps fans coming back for more.
Qualifying has always been virtually make or break for race day in Monaco, with the narrow streets of Monte Carlo making it a follow-my-leader style race around the grid.
That is still the case, but fans are at least hoping for a spicier race-day this year with the mandatory two pit stop rule coming into play for the first time.
Verstappen and Hamilton reignited their old feud as the seven-time world champion was investigated for impeding the Dutchman in Q1.
There has been some confusion from the Ferrari garage and Hamilton was told that Verstappen was on a slow lap so didn't get out of the way when he was actually on a flying lap.
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Verstappen said on his team radio: 'f*** whoa mate f*** Lewis. Massive impeding that.'
Ferrari told the Brit 'He's (Verstappen) slowing down behind. Watch your mirrors.'
To which Hamilton replied 'You said he was slowing down mate! f*** man!'
Mercedes suffered a double disaster as Kimi Antonelli crashed into the barriers at the end of Q1, prompting a red flag and his exit in 15th.
George Russell did the old 'turn it off and on again' with his car as it ran out of power in the tunnel at the start of Q2 and it was game over as the red flag came out again.
The Monaco marshalls lined up and helped push Russell's car to safety.
The British driver was left seething and hit his steering wheel in frustration as he had to settle for 14th.
British Haas driver Ollie Bearman was booted out of Q1 in 18th on a disappointing afternoon for the Chelmsford-born driver.
Bearman will take a 10-place grid penalty for overtaking under a red-flag during second practice.
Ferrari had to race to get Hamilton's car ready for qualifying after he crashed into the barriers in the dying moments of FP3.
It has been an eventful week at Monaco, particularly for Hamilton.
The Brit went airborne on Friday after driving over a chicane, and he followed that up with a crash in the last practice session.
Hamilton was unhurt and safely left the car after the incident which happened in the dying moments of FP3 and an hour-and-a-half before qualifying.
The British driver had crunched into the barriers at Massanet at blistering speed with nowhere else to go on the streets of Monte Carlo.
He had come up over the crest and faced two cars moving slowly ahead so had to take action and avoid them.
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