Raikkonen on pole for Ferrari at Monaco Grand Prix – Hamilton qualifies14th

Kimmi Raikkonen has taken pole position for Ferrari at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, with Vettel second and Bottas third. Hamilton qualifies in 14th place.

Kimmi Raikkonen shone for Ferrari in qualifying for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix, taking pole position (his first for nine years) just ahead of team mate Sebastian Vettel and with Mercedes’ Bottas in third.

But Lewis Hamilton seemed to be struggling from the off in Q1, only managing 10th, but it got worse in Q2 as Hamilton struggled to control his car which seemed to lack grip, and on his last lap – which looked like it might be good enough – McLaren’s Vandoorne crashed and a yellow flag meant Hamilton couldn’t improve. He’ll start in 14th.

Elsewhere on the grid, the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo qualified in fourth and fifth, Sainz put his Toro Rosso in sixth, Perez in the Force India is in eighth, Button qualified for McLaren in ninth and Vandoorne got 10th despite his smack in Q2.

That’s a cracking showing by McLaren’s current form, but sadly for Jenson Button, who was terrific despite a lack of experience with this year’s car and tyres, he’ll be starting at the back of the grid after a 15 place penalty for using too many engine parts.

Which, with Hamilton also starting at the back, could make the action at the back of the pack as interesting as it looks likely to be at the front in tomorrow’s race.