Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying: Lewis Hamilton beats Nico Rosberg to pole

Lewis Hamilton has put his Mercedes on pole position for the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix, beating team mate Nico Rosberg in to second spot. Vettel’s Ferrari is third.

Despite being a winner in 2008 – and breaking the rule that it’s almost always the pole sitter that wins the Monaco Grand Prix – Lewis Hamilton has never had a pole in Monaco. Until now.

A convincing display by Hamilton, he took first spot from team mate Rosberg by more than a third of a second, leaving him with the task of losing the race at a track where the pole sitter has more of an advantage than any other Grand Prix in the F1 calendar, thanks to the lack of overtaking opportunities on the Monte Carlo streets.

After being beaten by Rosberg to pole in Monaco for the last two years, it must be a sweet result for the Brit, whose form has looked good all through the weekend.

Behind Hamilton and Rosberg, Vettel took third spot for Ferrari, with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo back in the mix with a fourth place start, his team mate Daniil Kvyat in fifth, Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari in sixth, Sergio Perez in the Force India in seventh, Carlos Sainz in eighth, Max Verstappen ninth in the Toro Rosso and the Lotus of Romain Grosjean comlpeting the top ten starters.

Sadly, it was another woeful day for the all time kings of Monaco – 15 times winners McLaren – with Alonso ending up in 14th place after an electrical failure in the second session put him out, and Jenson Button starting in 12th after failing to set a quick enough time when an off by Rosberg wrecked a lap that looked set to see him in final qualifying.

It looks like tomorrow’s race will be between Hamilton and Rosberg, but Monaco is capable of throwing a spanner or two in the works, and Vettel must be a threat in the Ferrari.