Felipe Massa ripped up the Monaco form book as he and Ferrari stunned McLaren to secure a surprise front-row lockout for Sunday's race.
The Brazilian repeatedly expressed his dislike for the twisty street circuit in the build up to this weekend’s race – but proved he could still be a force there with a characteristically brilliant pole lap to beat his team-mate and both McLarens.
His final time of 1 minute 15.787 beat Kimi Raikkonen to the top spot by just 0.03 of a second and creates a potentially impregnable red wall at the front on a track that is notoriously hard to overtake on.
The perfect qualifying result now puts Ferrari in the ideal place to end its seven-year victory drought at the tortuous venue.
As for McLaren, the British squad faces a big challenge to reassert what was expected to be clear supremacy on the streets after dominating Thursday practice.
Lewis Hamilton will lead its fight back in third after never quite completing the perfect lap in either of the three sessions, with team-mate Heikki Kovalainen alongside on the second row.
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BMW again couldn’t get in the mix at the front, although Robert Kubica just missed out on beating Kovalainen to fourth by 0.06 of a second.
It was a far worse situation for his team-mate Nick Heidfeld, however, who will start down in 13th after missing out on a top 10 place for the first time this season.
Williams delivered on its strong form throughout all sessions so far and Nico Rosberg will start in a sterling sixth place.
Fernando Alonso didn’t enjoy the easiest of sessions in his R28, but still rallied in Q3 to net a commendable seventh with Toyota’s Jarno Trulli alongside.
Red Bull duo Mark Webber and David Coulthard will start alongside each other in ninth and 10th places respectively – although Coulthard missed out on a chance to improve on that after a huge crash at the end of Q2.
Under braking into the chicane after exiting the tunnel, the Scot’s RB4 violently snapped towards the right and smashed into the barrier.
The impact ripped off its right-front wheel, sending it rolling past the chicane, while the car careered down the escape road.
Coulthard managed to get out unharmed and returned to the pit lane, although the crash meant he was unable to play any part in Q3.
So, who do I think will take race victory tomorrow? Felipe Massa. No doubt for me. You have the ultimate advantage when you take pole in Monaco, and Felipe Massa has the skill to take full advantage of his position on the grid.
I was extremely impressed by Nico Rosberg, who has shown great pace here yet again. He could hold a surprise up his sleeve tomorrow. Nick Heidfeld qualifying in 13th place. Shock of the season so far.
My predictions are Massa to win, with Hamilton in second and Raikkonen or Rosberg in third. A bold prediction you say. I'm aware of that, but Rosberg is special round Monte Carlo, and as I said, he could pull out a real surprise.
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3 months ago
Just to add, I'm a little bit disappointed with Rosberg in Q3, really thought he'd also be mixing it with the top 2 teams considering his mesmerizing lap in Q2.
3 months ago
Massa: heading top 1 position in the championship!
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