Formula 1: Norris grabs Leclerc Monaco-Pole away

In a dramatic heartbeat final, Lando Norris secured the pole position for the Formula 1 classic in Monaco for the first time. With the fastest round, the British McLaren driver passed the last handle past the Monegasium Ferrari star Charles Leclerc. Last year’s winner Leclerc seemed to be on the first time to race for the second time in a row. But with an amazing round in 1: 09.954 minutes, Norris prevented this with a narrow lead of only 0.109 seconds.

“I am very proud that we did this here. This is a special place for it,” said Norris. The 25-year-old Wahl-Monegasse made it to the pole for the eleventh time, this year it was only the second time after the start in Australia. “I have had some difficulties in the past few months,” said Norris, reporting that he fought his way out of this situation with meticulous work. The relief after the strong idea was noticeable without any mistake.

Norris can catch up with the World Cup deficit

Norris has good prospects to win in Monaco for the first time in Monaco on Sunday (3 p.m./Sky). It is difficult to overtake on the narrow asphalt band in the principality, the starting position at the very front is already a big step to the next Grand Prix triumph. However, a new rule is used for the first time: two pit stops are mandatory for all drivers. This means that the voltage is to be increased by more tactical possibilities.

Before the eighth of 24 World Cup runs, the second McLaren driver Oscar Piatri leads in the World Cup ranking with a 13-point lead over Norris. Piatri will go to the slopes as third.

Behind it is world champion Max Verstappen – 22 points behind Piatri currently the World Cup press – as fourth. The Red Bull star benefited from a starting place penalty against Lewis Hamilton. In the opinion of the racing commissioners, the record world champion had hindered the qualification in Ferrari Verstappen. The Brit has three places back from position four and now starts as a seventh.

Before the crucial hunt, Leclerc surprisingly had the best lap times in all three training sessions. The former vice world champion had traveled very skeptically because his company car recently had some blatant weaknesses. Especially with slow curves, the Ferrari did not really cope. There was not much to see on the 3.337 kilometers of the shortest course of the year.

Bitter day for Mercedes driver

In the first section of the qualification, Leclerc was just ahead again, Norris and Piatri followed with less than a tenth of a second. Because the Italian Kimi Antonelli crashed into the guardrail with his Mercedes after a driving error, there was an interruption. The car was recovered before George Russell also ended in the second silver arrow. The British car remained in the tunnel due to electronics problems and had to be pushed out in a way.

Then the World Cup runner -up Norris turned and set the best time before the third and decisive part of the qualification – it was only 0.011 seconds ahead of Leclerc. The German Nico Hülkenberg did not go beyond 13th place in the kick, while Norris could no longer be taken away from the best possible starting position for the race on the Côte d’Azur.

“In the end there is always something that you could have done better. But today it was the best round,” said the narrowly beaten Leclerc: “That’s how it is. It’s a bit frustrating.” The 27-year-old rated as a good sign that he could keep up: “But I don’t think we have great chances of winning.”