Qualifying Report - His first time

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Lewis Hamilton took the pole for the Monaco for the first time in his Formula 1 career. It took him most of the session to find a good rhythm, but he got it with two laps to go and won the pole.

The ambient temperature five minutes before the start of the session was 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Centigrade).

The line-up for the weekend was: Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Red Bull Renault - Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat. Williams Mercedes - Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren Honda - Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. Force India Mercedes - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Toro Rosso Renault - Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lotus Mercedes - Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Marussia Ferrari - Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi. Sauber - Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr.

Qualifying 1

3 minutes into the session, Verstappen clocked a 1:19.803.

That did not last long as Hamilton took the top spot with a 1:16.528 and Rosberg went second. Then Rosberg posted a 1:16.528.

10 minutes into the session, Ericsson was in 15th place and on the bubble.

With 4 minutes remaining in the session, Sainz was now on the bubble.

With 3 minutes remaining in the session, only two drivers were not on track.

When the madness stopped, Rosberg was still in front ahead of Hamilton, Verstappen, Kvyat, Sainz, Ricciardo, Perez, Button, Vettel and Hulkenberg.

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q1 were: Nasr, Bottas, Ericsson, Stevens and Merhi.

Qualifying 2

Ferrari and Mercedes did not use the super soft Pirellis in Q1, but everybody was going to use them in Q2.

With 12 minutes remaining in the 15-minute session, Perez set a 1:17.592. But Vettel would easily beat that with a 1:16.224.

With 10 minutes remaining in the session, Alonso stopped at Turn 1.

With 8 minutes remaining in the session, Perez was in 10th place and on the bubble, and he soon dropped down to 12th and now Ricciardo was in 10th.

With 5 minutes remaining in the session, the top six were: Rosberg, Vettel, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Sainz and Verstappen.

In the final moments, Kvyat jumped up to fifth while Ricciardo dropped to 11th.

The top six at the end of Q2 were: Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Kvyat and Verstappen.

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q2 were: Grosjean, Button, Hulkenberg, Massa and Alonso.

Qualifying 3

Hamilton was the first out on track.

With 9 minutes remaining in the 12-minute session, both Hamilton and Rosberg backed off on their flying laps as Perez went quickest with a 1:17.912.

With 8 minutes remaining in the session, Hamilton posted a 1:15.304 and Rosberg a 1:15.440. Vettel was third and Ricciardo fourth.

The rest of the top 10 were: Kvyat, Perez, Verstappen, Sainz, Raikkonen and Maldonado.

With 4 minutes remaining in the session, all the drivers except Perez headed out for their last laps.

Hamilton improved to a 1:15.098, but Rosberg locked up his tires and ruined his lap. Still, Rosberg held on to second ahead of Vettel and Ricciardo. Kvyat, Raikkonen, Perez, Sainz, Maldonado and Verstappen rounded out the top 10.