Leclerc's pole position in Monaco is usurped by Norris in qualifying.
Monaco Grand Prix: Lando Norris Grabs Pole Position with Last-Minute Surge
Monaco - British McLaren driver Lando Norris achieved an unprecedented first-ever pole position in the Formula 1 classic at Monaco on Saturday. A thrilling final push enabled him to oust Monegasque Ferrari star Charles Leclerc, who appeared poised for the first starting spot for the second consecutive year.
"I am immensely proud of this achievement, especially here. This place truly is special," said Norris, a 25-year-old resident of Monaco. This marks his 11th career pole, following his triumph in the season opener in Australia. "I've faced some setbacks over the past few months, but my determination and focused effort has helped me overcome those challenges," he added, visibly relieved after his error-free performance.
Norris' scintillating lap of 1:09.954 minutes bested Leclerc by a slim margin of 0.109 seconds, providing Norris a much-needed boost for Sunday's race, scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM (Sky). Winning in Monaco for the first time could now be within Norris' grasp given the track's notorious challenges for overtaking and the advantage that comes from securing the front spot.
However, a new rule is set to make a competitive debut in the Monaco Grand Prix: Drivers will be required to make two pit stops. This decision is intended to bolster the race's suspense through elevated opportunities for tactical maneuvers.
Battling for the World Championship lead, McLaren's Oscar Piastri stands in first place by a 13-point margin over Norris. Earning the third spot on the starting grid, Piastri presents a formidable challenger to Norris' aspirations in Monaco.
Meanwhile, reigning champion Max Verstappen, keeping third place in the World Championship, benefits from Lewis Hamilton's grid penalty. The seven-time world champion allegedly impeded Verstappen during qualifying, resulting in a penalty that moves Hamilton back three positions on the grid, placing him in seventh for the race.
Surprisingly, Leclerc led every practice session preceding the qualifiers, sparking optimism for a potential home race victory. Despite reports of significant structural weaknesses in his service car, particularly when navigating slow corners, Leclerc displayed minimal weakness during the race weekend.
Suffering a series of setbacks, Mercedes drivers endured a disappointing qualifying day, with Italian Kimi Antonelli crashing his car into barriers and George Russell's vehicle stalling in the tunnel due to electrical issues. Despite these misfortunes, Norris seized the relatively open opportunity to clinch the pole position in the final moments of qualifying.
The bitterly disappointed Leclerc stated, "At the end, there's always room for improvement. Today, this was the best lap. It's a little frustrating, but I am encouraged that I could keep up overall." While Leclerc acknowledged that they have slim chances of clinching victory, the close margin between the two drivers promises an exciting race battle on the French Riviera.
In the Monaco Grand Prix, Lando Norris' impressive last-minute surge secured him the pole position, outpacing the home favorite Charles Leclerc, who showed remarkable consistency during practice sessions. Despite this, Leclerc's sports competition with Norris promises an exciting auto-racing battle on the French Riviera on Sunday, as both drivers vie for the grand-prix victory.
