Monaco, 24 May – Scuderia Ferrari has set up camp on Row 3 of the grid for tomorrow’s Monaco GP. Fernando Alonso qualified fifth, one place ahead of Kimi Raikkonen. While the Spaniard had a “glass half full” attitude to the result, pleased with signs of improvement from the F14 T and the fact they outpaced teams that have been ahead of the Prancing Horse in recent races, the Finn went for the “glass half empty” approach, unhappy that he still was not completely at his ease in the car and that the tyres were taking too long to warm up.
Mercedes continued it’s clean sweep of pole positions, with Nico Rosberg, who won here from pole last year, taking the number one slot for the second time this year. Alongside him is team-mate and series leader Lewis Hamilton, the Englishman unable to do a quick last lap as the German had actually brought out the yellow flags, having gone off at Mirabeau. Daniel Ricciardo again outpaced his world champion team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, as the Red Bull’s secured the second row.
If the front of the grid reminds one of Noah’s Ark with it’s two-by-two formation, at least the deluge that prompted the building of the famous boat is unlike to be a factor tomorrow, as the sun is due to shine on the sixth round of the world championship. However, whatever the conditions, the race around the narrow streets is always a long and tough one, so much will depend on what happens in the first couple of hundred metres after the start. There is not much that can be done on the strategy front as a one stop has been the signature of this race for a few years now over the 78 laps.