Monaco // Lewis Hamilton realised one of his dreams on Saturday when he claimed his first Monaco Grand Prix pole position.
In the process, the reigning world champion ended Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg’s ambitions of a top spot hat-trick in the Mediterranean principality.
On the classic street circuit where his hero, Brazilian Ayrton Senna, inspired him by reeling off six wins in seven years, including five in a row between 1987 and 1993, Hamilton was irresistible as he secured the prime starting position for Sunday’s race at the ninth time of asking.
“It has been a long, long time,” said Hamilton, who said he remembers, as a boy, being glued to the TV watching the images of Senna.
“I can’t express to you how happy I am. It was not the easiest session.
“There were a lot of things that throw you off your rhythm and I did not have that rhythm until the last couple of laps.”
Read more:
[ – Love-hate of Formula One Monaco Grand Prix: Racing is ‘so much fun’ but the noise is ‘hell’ ]
[ – ‘Mercedes is my home’ states F1 champion Lewis Hamilton after signing new three-year contract ]
After struggling early, Hamilton clocked a final best lap in one minute, 15.090 seconds to finish three-10ths of a second clear of Rosberg and fellow-German Sebastian Vettel, who was third for Ferrari ahead of the two Red Bulls of Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Russian Daniil Kvyat.
“Coming across the line, just hoping for once that you’ve got it. It’s incredibly special for me and for my guys who’ve worked incredibly hard this weekend,” Hamilton said.
“It’s so important to get a rhythm and it’s really important to continue to improve.
“It’s like climbing a ladder. Every time you’ve got to be taking one step – and if you slide back down it’s sometimes harder to get back up. Nothing was able to get in my way today.”
Hamilton said it was satisfying, but nothing to celebrate.
“This is not even half the job done,” he said. “There is so much to do tomorrow. It will be mentally and physically challenging.
“I am just sitting here and thinking about previous years and what got away, or what was not good enough, so I am looking forward to tomorrow.
“The last time I was on pole here was in 2006 in GP2, so it will be a very special day.”
Hamilton reflected on Senna’s inspiring Monaco achievements.
“This is special for me, but it’s not a milestone,” the Briton said. “You cannot compare it to what he achieved in Monaco.
“But it is a step.”
Rosberg, who beat Hamilton from pole to win the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago and trim his lead in the title race to 20 points, said: “It was the other way round for me, I lost my rhythm, and I knew Lewis was quick and it didn’t work out for me.
“I lost touch before the end. I felt confident it would come my way, but it didn’t.”
It was Hamilton’s fifth pole of the season and Mercedes’ fourth front-row lockout in six events.
After being fastest in final free practice, Vettel was outpaced.
“I was struggling with warming up the tyres,” he said. “It was too cool. It’s a shame the sun was hiding behind the clouds.”
Monaco Grand Prix lineup for Sunday
1. Lewis Hamilton, England, Mercedes, 1 minute, 15.098 seconds.
2. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Mercedes, 1:15.440.
3. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:15.849.
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Red Bull, 1:16.041.
5. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Red Bull, 1:16.182.
6. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Ferrari, 1:16.427.
7. Sergio Perez, Mexico, Force India, 1:16.808.
8. Pastor Maldonado, Venezuela, Lotus, 1:16.946.
9. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Toro Rosso, 1:16.957.
Eliminated after second session
10. Jenson Button, England, McLaren, 1:17.093.
11. Nico Hulkenberg, Germany, Force India, 1:17.193.
12. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Williams, 1:17.278.
13. Fernando Alonso, Spain, McLaren, 1:26.632.
Eliminated after first session
14. Felipe Nasr, Brazil, Sauber, 1:18.101.
15. Romain Grosjean, France, Lotus, 1:17.007.
16. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Williams, 1:18.434.
17. Marcus Ericsson, Sweden, Sauber, 1:18.513.
18. Will Stevens, England, Marussia, 1:20.655.
19. Roberto Merhi, Spain, Marussia, 1:20.904.
20. Carlos Sainz Jr., Spain, Toro Rosso, 1:16.931.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE