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Max Verstappen Takes Monaco Pole In Intense Qualifying

By Robert Haile

In the glitz and glamour of the streets of Monte Carlo Max Verstappen took Red Bull back to the top timesheets.

In a nonstop action qualifying session Verstappen beat Aston Martin rival Fernando Alonso to pole position.

Verstappen said: “We knew it was going to be a bit of a struggle this weekend, but everything came together in the end. Yesterday wasn’t the best start, but I think we kept on improving and getting better.

“My final lap today wasn’t ideal, I gave it everything I had and risked it all in the third sector, as I knew I was behind. I clipped a few barriers but I’m happy to be on pole here for the first time.

“Tomorrow we need a clean start. It’s a short run to turn one and in Monaco a lot of things can happen. Race pace-wise the car is quick, so hopefully we can have a positive day.”

Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 27, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took third but starts sixth after a three place penalty was handed to him for impeding McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon starts on the second row after finishing in fourth but will have Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz for company instead of Leclerc.

Mercedes Lewis Hamilton recovered from an accident in the final free practice session to take sixth with Pierre Gasly Alpine in seventh splitting Mercedes with George Russell in eighth.

Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri and Norris rounded the top ten.

Five different teams lost drivers in the second qualifying session as McLaren’s rookie Oscar Piastri took eleventh, Nyck de Vries AlphaTauri starts in twelfth, Alex Albon’s Williams picked up thirteenth as Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas start in fourteenth and fifteenth.

Logan Sargeant’s Williams missed out on a first appearance in the second session in sixteenth as both Haas’ start near each other as Kevin Magnussen beat Nico Hulkenberg.

Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez start at the back after the Mexican driver crashed.

The Monaco Grand Prix race starts at 2pm (14:00) in the UK.

Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying

  1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
  3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)*
  4. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
  5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
  6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
  8. George Russell (Mercedes)
  9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
  10. Lando Norris (McLaren)
  11. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
  12. Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri)
  13. Alex Albon (Williams)
  14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
  15. Vallteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
  16. Logan Sargeant (Williams)
  17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
  18. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
  19. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
  20. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

Leclerc was handed a three place penalty for impeding Norris.