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Monaco Grand Prix: Pole position a 'long time coming', says Norris

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Clock Icon11 hoursMotorsport

McLaren's Lando Norris secured pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, edging out home hero Charles Leclerc's Ferrari on the final lap of Saturday's qualifying.

Norris beat Leclerc by 0.109 seconds, with his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri taking third place.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton initially finished behind Piastri, though the seven-time world champion was later demoted to seventh for obstructing Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who was subsequently promoted to fourth.

Reflecting on his pole position, Norris was clearly delighted, saying: "It's been a long time coming, I feel good.

"I don't think you realise how good this feels with quite a few struggles over the last couple of months. 

"Especially here in Monaco, it's a beautiful place and the hardest track probably to do it.

"Up against the hometown hero [Leclerc], I'm very proud of the whole team, we’ve worked a lot over the last few months to get to a day like today so I’m very pleased."

Indeed, it was Norris' first pole position since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where he went on to win the race. 

The Briton also praised McLaren's risk-free run plan and was quick to appreciate the work of his team.

"It was no risk from our side. It's what we believed was best before qualifying and proven to be the best after, so we stuck to what we believed in.

"The team have done a fantastic job, so thank you to everyone here and back at the factory. These days don't come easy. I’m proud to give something back to them."

Norris' team-mate Piastri, who finished third, was satisfied with his result but acknowledged a mistake on his first lap.

"It's intense as it always is around here," he said of Monaco qualifying.

"It's quite reminiscent of last year, the first lap felt good and the second lap I made a mistake in the chicane, and I left a little bit on there.

"To beat Lando [Norris] today was going to be tough, so well done to him.

"But I'm still pretty happy. It's been a pretty messy weekend so far, so to come out with a lap that I thought was pretty good and third is a decent result."

Qualifying top 10

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

5. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

8. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

10. Alex Albon (Williams)