World Champion Sebastian Vettel is on pole for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix, ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button and teammate Mark Webber. Lining up beside last year’s winner on the second row is Fernando Alonso for Ferrari.
Michael Schumacher is fifth for Mercedes GP Petronas while Massa is sixth. Lewis Hamilton will face a tough task tomorrow as he lines up seventh, next to Nico Rosberg. Williams rookie Pastor Maldonado did very well to enter Q3 and should not be ashamed to be last among those who completed the shootout. He is consistently outperforming veteran teammate Barrichello (12th), who should retire sooner rather than later.
Vettel’s fastest lap of 1:13.556 was set before the biggest moment of the day, when Sauber’s Perez got into a big accident. The session was red flagged with 2 minutes and 20 seconds to go. When it was finally cleared, the whole field rushed out for one hot lap to settle it. Hamilton was first out as he didn’t set a time prior to the pause. There was only time for one lap, and it didn’t quite work out for the Brit, who is a former winner here.
Seven minutes into Q3, the crash of the day happened. Sauber’s Sergio Perez was wide exiting the tunnel when he lost control and slammed into the side barriers, propelling him sideways into the barrier that divides the track and the escape road. Mercedes GP Petronas’ Nico Rosberg also crashed at the same spot in practice – could it be ripples on the uneven tarmac or dust? Jenson Button also had a similar crash here in 2003.
Replays showed that Perez put his hands to support his head before the impact. News from the paddock say that he’s conscious and talking, but with pain in his legs. Let’s hope that the young Mexican recovers fast. It will be an unlikely miracle for him to race tomorrow.
Fresh from a court battle where they failed to stop Team Lotus from using their name, Lotus Renault GP won’t be too happy with qualifying, as both Petrov and Heidfeld failed to make the top ten shootout, although Heidfeld will be the more disappointed man – he’s 16th, five places behind Petrov in 11th.
At the back, unlike in the previous race, both Team Lotus drivers didn’t make it out of Q1 – Kovalainen was 18th fastest, one spot above teammate Trulli, who has tasted victory here before. Behind the pair is Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari, but he’s only down here because he collided with a Sauber at Rascasse, with damage on the front wing forcing him to pit.
The last four are the usual cars from Virgin and HRT. The HRTs didn’t set times and will not feature tomorrow. Click here to see the full timing sheet.
UPDATE: Sauber’s Sergio Perez has managed to avoid serious injuries. He had suffered concussion and a sprained thigh, but no broken bones and other damage were found.
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I can easily tell Vettel is on for yet another win. And here I thought I wouldn’t miss the Monaco GP for the world. :)
No worries for Hamilton…he got extra soft tyres in the raceday..by strategy,lewis could win GP Monaco tommorow…
Hahaha, great start for Vettel, serves Hammy rite for being so cocky in d news lately!!! Wat was it abt being the chosen one to defeat red bull? Even accusing RBR n toro rosso colluding to make sure he can’t win spanish gp! Pathetic!!
Go Vettel go!! Go Red Bull go!! Win it again in style!! Shut off that cocky hot air shittalker’s mouth n suffer like a crybaby he is!! Vettel is younger n leading d championship, bt nvr get cocky abt it n remain humble. Fuck yeah, dat’s y Vettel’s much more awsm!!
what’s more impressive is that schumacher who is past his prime is able to achieve a faster lap time than his team mate. if he was the in the red bull, I reckoned he’ll be as fast as vettel or even faster.old farts for the win!
Come on Schumacher, get the first podium for the come back :)!!!
Schumacher is a past and done, don’t beat a dead horse.
Team Lotus hasn’t live up to its name. It is a shame to use the legendary name when you are one of the back markers.