Max Verstappen secures first Monaco GP pole in thrilling finish
Max Verstappen outperformed Fernando Alonso in a nerve-wracking finish to secure his first pole position at the iconic Monte Carlo circuit, setting the stage for an unforgettable Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.
Perez early crash
The drama began with Sergio Perez's crash during Q1 at Sainte Devote.
The rear end of his Red Bull stepped out after carrying too much speed into the opening corner, hitting the Tecpro barrier and causing severe damage to his rear suspension.
This incident brought out the red flag, causing a temporary halt in the session.
As Q1 resumed, both Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton found themselves at risk. With Hamilton's tires not ready and Sainz aborting laps, both drivers were languishing in the drop zone as the session drew towards its conclusion.
In a last-ditch effort, both managed to advance out of the bottom five, leaving the Haas duo of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg eliminated at this early stage.
The Q2 session brought more surprises. Lando Norris of McLaren grazed the wall at Tabac, damaging the right-hand side of his car and forcing him to abandon his current lap.
Despite this setback, his earlier lap was enough to place him in the top 10, ensuring his survival to the next round.
Verstappen upsets Alonso's party
Verstappen started Q3 with a solid 1m12.102s, but Alonso quickly outdid him, clocking in a superior 1m11.706s.
The Spanish veteran commented on his incredible drive, stating he'd "pushed like an animal" to take the lead.
Not to be outdone, Verstappen seized another opportunity, falling slightly short in the opening sectors but mastering the Rascasse and Antony Noghes corners to move back to the top with a 1m11.654s.
As the session progressed, Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc made noteworthy attempts to claim the lead, but the final showdown was between Verstappen and Alonso.
Despite a deficit of over two-tenths to Alonso, Verstappen found an extra three-tenths on his final lap, securing his first pole position in Monaco.
With an impressive performance, Leclerc earned a spot on the second row alongside Ocon, while Sainz will start alongside Hamilton on the third row.
As we move on from an unforgettable qualifying session, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he aims to convert his pole position into a victory in the challenging streets of Monte Carlo.
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