The Monaco Grand Prix - Qualifying Highlights Formula 1

For sure it is the best race. For the fans to get close to us. To be

out there, per performing, it is unbelievable. We are racing through

the streets, the tunnels, it is harder to follow, no room for

errors. It is really difficult to overtake. You know you are on a

roller-coaster ride, your heart is in your mouth, that is what it is

like here the whole way around. 2008 we went on pole. I hit the wall.

? COMMENTATOR: Lewis Hamilton has hit

the barriers. In those moments your heart sinks to the lowest point. But

then we did a pit stop. I never give up. You still have hope.

COMMENTATOR: And the boyhood dream comes true, Lewis Hamilton wins the

Monaco Grand Prix. . To get a win here is a stepping tone

it would be historic for me it is quite an important one.

Monaco, a place indeed where dreams really do come true. Hello and

welcome to qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. A perfect day here.

Eddie and David are along for the roller-coaster ride. I really think

it will be like that today. We saw Nico Rosberg's dream come true with

the poling but what about Lewis Hamilton? Well, he has talked about

it. He is excited about it. He has won here. That is a big thing in his

mind. I don't think he cares if he is on pole position but he wants to

win the race. How important is it to be on pole

position? I think he does care. Clearly the points is where it is

coming from but the mind games with Nico have started. Everything he has

been talking about has been about getting the pole. Adding it to the

long list of achievements in Formula One.

Is this where we see the driver's skill at the forefront? Well you

can't get around without a great car. It shows the drivers that are

really at one with their machine. Confidence is a huge part of driving

a lap here. You can put whatever number you want on it but you cannot

drive 100% every lap. It is the guy that is more comfortable kissing the

wide barriers, for sure. , , 1 00 concentration for the

drivers and 100% fun for the fans. This glitzy place to host round six:

All eyes on the Constructors' Championship:

Well, sadly, this week we heard the news that triple Formula One world

champion, Sir Jack Braba in had passed away. With his love of design

and engineering and the talent for drying he was an inspiration to

many, including Mark Webber. Earlier this week in Australia we

lost one of the greats of our sport. Sir Jack Braban.

COMMENTATOR: He shows the sort of form that marks him as the driver of

the future. The three times Formula One world

champion marks him as a phenomenal guy and racer.

1959, 60, and of 6, -- 66 he was a hero.

He was my childhood hero. It was a great Australian effort in

66. I met jack when I was 17 Sydney. He

supported me all the way through when I was chasing wins. He was a

tenacious, disciplined guy. You are feeling venerable now? I am

just getting into my stride. As a driver, as an engineer, what he

did will never be done again. He was a legend.

A true racing grit. And what an incredible story.

They must have been amazing day days. He race raced against Fitapald

I cans, so it shows in his time in Formula One he had great longevity

and an amazing impact to the Australians that followed after him.

He has left an amazing legacy? He has indeed. The pinnacle for that

for me is something that I find incredible to understand. Three

times world champion but to win it in his own car, that he designed,

created, tested, all of the things that we know are so difficult, to do

it in his own car, that is never going to happen again. I don't think

it can be matched. But the other thing as you rightly say, he had

three sons, two of which won Le Mans and the grandson is doing amazing

things in junior Formula One. It adds to the history. It is magic.

Let's catch up with the news now. How times change. Two years ago we

had seven different winners in the opening seven races but only three

have taken the spoils in the last 12 months. Given Mercedes domination,

it may take the quirkiness of Monaco to change that.

There is not a sector that is blowing everyone away. If we get it

together we can challenge them on Saturday. Pole spatial a

possibility? Always. Nico Rosberg has been the braids

maid in the last four races but on the back of the news he will be a

Mercedes driver for two years, he is leaving no stone unturned to get

ahead of Lewis Hamilton. I could not see after the race in

Barcelona. I told the guys we have to raise the street seat a little

bit. That is the thing for this track to be able to see the kerbs

better. Monaco is where deals for the future

are done. Speculation sounds the long-term plans of Red Bull

technical boss. There are rumours, that he has been made a ?20 million

offer to join Ferrari. Aid ran has made his situation

clear. He is committed to Red Bull and will be for the future.

Does that mean Sunday night of Monaco or the next three years? That

is open, isn't it? I will never go into the details of a contract. But

he is not going anywhere. Even if he stays put, Ferrari's new

boss is busy making plans for the future. This is his third race at

the helm and says we can expect news soon.

We are making a lot of important changes in the way that we work. In

the investments, in the programme we are to launch. When you ask the

question, do we have an idea after improvements, I say, yes, we have

80% knowledgeable about what we must improve and we know about the

competitive advantage. That is clear.

We have come to the top of the pit lane. There is an amazing crowd.

Interesting news that week, the offer made by Ferrari to Adrian? Is

he going to stay or go? My opinion is that he is not motivated by

money. He is a British boy through and through. He loves the life that

sounds him where he is. But I am intrigued. I would like to ask

another question with your answer. What capacity is he going to stay

with in Red Bull? My idea, the way that I am hearing things that there

could be a deal with Ben Ainslie for the America's Cup Challenge or more

likely a road car from Red Bull and Infinity and all of those people

that are there. That is my little spy work going on. What has he said

to you, David? I think it is speculation. Ferrari denied that the

offer was made. But Adrian has had a great run at Red Bull. Four World

Championships back to back. But they have produced another car. They have

issues with it, why not get involved with the engine design? I believe he

should be involved with the race team, directly or a possible

yachting programme that may excite him as he is into that. But I

believe he would like to see in his legacy, the design and the

manufacture of a high-quality road car.

But you are saying he is going to stay within the Red Bull fold? Not

necessarily in Formula One. You are confusing me? In the Red

Bull family. Things are up for Grosjean, despite

Lotus having a tricky time, the Frenchman has kept his cool. He was

once branded a first line nutter by Mark Webber.

My dream is to become the world champion.

? COMMENTATOR: Gross anyhas made a

brilliant pass. He holds foreign the best result of the year.

We finish finished 2013 well, we started 2014 not in the way we

wanted, it was not good for us. Going to Spain, a good race felt

good. ?

COMMENTATOR: Lotus up there in the top ten. Grosjean, what a boost for

the emat that. When you realise how much trouble

they could be in, did you think you made the wrong decision by staying

there? No. You could not know until the first test. We were behind. Our

car was not working, it was getting worse and worse. It is a change of

plan. We ewill not be world champion this year. It is taking more time

but it is getting better. In Monaco, we have seen you be so

successful in some circuits, this one in Formula One has been more

difficult? Last year, I arrived in a state of mind that I wanted to go

for it, maybe too much. COMMENTATOR: How about that?

Grosjean has crashed tree times this weekend but now gone quickest.

I was quick, getting back with the car. Getting the confidence back.

COMMENTATOR: He got over the demons of the recklessness of the crash.

That is the fourth crash. One day I was down. I did not want

to speak to anyone. Only my wife could support me. But you have to

see the positive. The car was getting better, improving every time

but we could not see it. Suddenly it went together and showed up. To be

fair, I have been strong mentally after criticism from Mark Webber. It

has not been easy. I was hoping that someone hit him,

the guys said it was his own doing. Maybe two separate starts, one for

him, one for us. Do you think that you will get the

weren't the other drivers? I think that I do.

I am proud to be part of the best drivers. I think that I showed last

year with the car and this year when it is more difficult to bring it

back to the top. Hopefully one day I will be the

world champion. If others come knocking on the door

with a car that can win races and championships, surely you will have

to go somewhere else? You want to go to the best. To get the best

opportunity. We will see at the end of the year. A very busy Lotus

garage prequalifying. I suppose the question is, come the summer break,

how many options, Eddie, do you think Romain is going to have? It

all depends. They love him, he's French, everything that they want,

Grosjean gives to them. It will be wherever they decide to put him. How

difficult do you think it is to see how Romain is in this team? He has

improved considerably since he started. The last gauge alongside

Kimi Raikkonen, over the course of two seasons together, Kimi was

always more consistent. He needs more of that to stand out for the

other top teams to want to employ him. There been some interesting

sessions, close at the top. Who is your tip for pole position? I think

it will be Lewis, he has the cutting edge at the moment. David is going

to the commentary box. Tom and Lee are in the pit lane.

Qualifying is about to begin on the most unforgiving circuit of the

season, as well as the most prestigious. It is Nico Rosberg, the

pole winner out here last year, who sets out first. Psychologically, it

makes such a difference being first out on the track. Your whole site of

lap of where the track conditions are, you have a clear track ahead of

you. That has been planned, it's not by accident that he is the first man

out on the track. Monaco looks glorious in the sunshine. Let's get

a word from Tom in the pits. What are we expecting to see during

qualifying? It's going to be very busy, lots of cars piling up under

the racetrack. If we get all 22 cars out together, that's one car every

75 metres around this racetrack. The computer simulations up and down the

pit lane are saying we are looking at a 17.5, which looks very

ambitious. That would put you well inside the top ten during final

practice. They think the track temperatures, by 10 degrees, and

that could be enough to switch the tyres on and find that second or so

that the car is going to need to achieve from what they did this

morning. The cars are on track. Hamilton and Forsberg bows out

there. Two of the only drivers to have taken one pole position at

least this year. Lewis Hamilton has taken the other. Four pole

positions this year. As Rosberg reminded us, to try to reset the

balance, at the moment it is still 1-1 in dry conditions, because so

many of the qualifying sessions we've had this year have been in the

wet. David, what are we looking at here? It's about trying to find the

position to start the lap. Hamilton was holding back. Rosberg is at the

first corner already. Lewis doesn't want to see him at all. He just

wants to concentrate on bringing the tyres in, getting a feel for the

track conditions. Being a living thing, it changes from when they

were last on the track. They are running on this harder of the two

compounds of tyre, the soft tyre with the yellow sidewalls. Let's

listen to Rosberg. A slight Sauber left on the front brakes, keep

warming them up. That is explaining the temperatures are not even in an

ideal working condition across the front axle. You may find yourself

grabbing a brake. The temperatures of the tyres will go up to around

1000 degrees, and it's dropping to a few hundred degrees on the

straights. You don't get as much time for them to cool here because

you may not get the peaks as well. Cooling and controlling the cooling

across the front and rear axle is key. The rear axle is used for the

regeneration. That's when they are charging the batteries. Therefore

they've got less reliance on the size of the rear calipers. The front

axle is pretty much standard, as we've seen through the history of

Formula One. Absolutely crucial that drivers get the right temperature. A

relatively slow first lap. The tyres are the harder of the two that were

brought by Pirelli this weekend. We have seen during practice it takes

quite a lot of laps. Even the best bars, like Mercedes and Red Bull,

struggle a little bit to get these tyres fully up to temperature and

get into the narrow window where you get the best grip available. Was

burgled dash-macro/quicker on this lap. It looks as though the track is

getting quicker. He now makes his way alongside the Mediterranean,

through the famous tunnel at Monaco. Then down the hill into the chicane.

Quite a steep hill, this. A lot of accidents there in the past. Nico

Rosberg himself had crashed there a couple of years ago, just hitting

the wall on the outside. We've seen many people make a mistake there the

past. Through the swimming pool section. Usually we don't get to see

that open-air swimming pool. That's what they drive past. Now past the

restaurant on the inside where viewers have a lovely opportunity to

look right down into the cockpit of the racing car as it comes past.

This is a much more competitive lap time. Still a little way off what we

saw on the super soft tyre this morning. It feels OK. We gather that

was at turn ten, the chicane, that he's made a mistake, Daniil Kvyat,

he was having the first time riding around the streets in his car. We

haven't seen any mistakes from him we said that earlier, but he's made

a mistake. They are doing a change in the pits. Hopefully he will be

able to come back out. Alonso, 1:19 .01. This lap could be enough to see

him through to the next part of qualifying. One minute 17.06. It's

marginal. You might need to do a one: 17.05. Not a bad effort at all.

That was the spin, my goodness, four crew VAT. You come over the crest

and lose the axle. The nose does its job perfectly. It manages to keep

all the rest of the car off the barriers. He was able to give clear

information to the team, I've damaged the nose, the rest of the

car his spine. They had the confidence to get him back in and

change that part. You've been called out on that section. No excuses for

experience. In 2008, I crashed the car there in qualifying. You are

convinced that something is broken because you think, how can I lose it

at that turn? It's just the momentum. A whole bunch of cars are

backing up, trying to get a clear space. You've got to be careful

because anyone that is deemed to be holding up another driver will see a

penalty after qualifying. Alonso is seven for the moment. We go back

with Lewis Hamilton now in the other Mercedes. Nico Rosberg currently

fastest. Who is in the drop zone? Both Red Bulls haven't been out yet,

so we are waiting for Ricciardo and Vettel. Will that be enough? It

should be, but they may still have to switch on the Red Bull super soft

tyre. 20 of the teams will have to do that. Maldonado has used the

super soft tyre to go third fastest. Massa goes on the harder of the two

compounds of tyre. Let's see how quickly can be here. He goes third

for the moment behind the two Mercedes of Rosberg and Hamilton.

Again, an impressive lap from the Australian. Hamilton, let's see if

this is a further improvement. It is, but it's not enough to go faster

than his team-mate. Now Sebastian Vettel comes through the final turn.

Vettel looking to improve, if possible. Yes, it is an improvement.

He is sixth fastest. But as we've seen throughout the weekend,

Ricciardo has the edge. Looks like Sebastian is a bit longer in the

corner, having to use more of the circuit, especially on the exit.

Daniel seems to be able to get the car turned and then accelerate away

from the corner. Sebastian had a good last one pre-. That would have

been different had Daniel been credited. As we join Ricciardo

through the high-speed chicane, some oversteer but plenty of space to

play with. A little bit wider than he could have got away with. Again,

leaving plenty of space to the apex. The target is not to be fastest,

it's simply to go through to the next part of qualifying. A good lap,

with the fastest final sector of anybody. You can see how dealing

with the traffic is not at all straightforward. The clock ticks

away, just over six and a half minutes to go in the first part of

qualifying. Hulkenberg, Perez, Chilton in the drop zone at the

moment. Vettel is fifth currently. We think you may need more than

that. You've got to decide when you come in and put the super-soft tyres

on, you can't leave it too late. Different levels of confidence in

the pit lane. Both Mercedes drivers have gone back out on the soft tyre,

so they think they can get through on the slower of the two compounds.

Raikkonen has just gone past on the super soft. Not as much confidence

from Ferrari. We are on board with Perez, it gives you that feel of

being in a tunnel. The driver sits so low, all you can see is the

asphalt on the walls on either side. He will be disappointed to have got

traffic from the south. He lost a bit of time in the last sector.

Currently eighth, but he will quite rightly feel there is more

performance to come. Magnussen was close to the wall through the final

turn. That's a good lap. Oh, no! He's locked up and gone straight

down it. Magnussen thankfully saves it from hitting anything. That

squeal you heard wasn't the tyre, it was from inside the cockpit! He got

away with a very good lap, only three tenths down on the two

Mercedes. He's gone faster than Ricciardo. I'm not sure where that

has come from, because this morning Magnussen was 11th and Button was

12. He is on the faster of the two tyres, so that's where it's come

from. But has also done that lap on a set of super-softs, he's now gone

up to third. Look out evenly matched the two McLaren drivers. McLaren

hoping to get through in the drop zone currently we have Bianchi and

Hulkenberg, he's not managed to get a clear lap in yet.

We will see a lot of changes to this in the final three and a half

minutes. Watching Kimi Raikkonen go through the hairpin, the drop down

the hill. Steeply down. A tight right-hander and into the tunnel.

Building up the speed and pace flat out through the right hand through

the tunnel, even though they can't see the exit. Then over this bumpy,

tricky braking section, where we saw the mistake from Kvyat earlier. Neat

and tidy from Raikkonen. You can use too much of the curve there, because

you are at low speed there is no downforce on the car. It really

starts to bounce on the tyre. At the high-speed chicane you can use more

because you got this tremendous load pushing down through the wings and

stabilising the car. Alonso pulls out of the way. Hamilton has gone

fastest of all in the first sector. Let's see where this puts Kimi

Raikkonen, fit for the moment. Another lock up there from the

McLaren, runs wide. That was Button this time. Bianchi has been going

quite well so far, 17th at the moment. What an opportunity. Can

Marussia get one car or both cars? Chilton has had a tougher time over

the weekend so far, but what result would be if Marussia could get into

that top 16. What is he doing there? He looked like he was pulling to let

him past. He has obviously then been told by his team that Hamilton is on

an alt lap, so therefore keep the position. Hamilton was fastest in

the first sector, so Bianchi, well, that was really bizarre. He pulled

over as he came out of the second part of the chicane, looking to

allow the Mercedes to overtake. Maybe he felt there had backed out

of it. Expect him to have a visit to the stewards afterwards. If he makes

it through and get a penalty, let's wait and see what happens. Jean-Eric

Vergne. Good middle sector by Werner. Look, he's gone fastest.

Vergne, on the super-soft tyres. Toro Rosso were quicker than McLaren

and Williams this morning. The Toro Rosso looking pretty competitive on

the super-soft attire. Maybe struggling a bit more on the soft

tyre. He has changed his crash helmet from

this morning. Alonso has set the finest gasbag fastest final sector

to both. Ferrari not confident enough to get through on the yellow

walled tyre. Ricciardo has done his time on the yellow tyre, so has

Vettel. We were looking at Marcus Ericsson as he excited Casino

Square. My goodness! He made contact, how unnecessary was that? I

think he was completely unsighted by mass. You didn't realise he was

going to give him the space. He carried way too much speed into the

corner and has taken them both into the barrier. A yellow flag, everyone

will have to back off in that section. This could determine the

order. As long as you sure you have slowed in that section, it's not

impossible to still improve your overall lap time. We've seen that

several times this year. But the likelihood is it's going to be...

It's clear. They've got the way. It's very impressive they've done

that so quickly. Daniel Riccardio managing to trap himself into the

top 16. Another Toro Rosso car has stopped. Bianchi is on track. He

really fancies his chances of beating one or both of the Saubers.

So, let's see, Bianchi, it was Massa pulled to the inside.

Wow, Sutil has held Bianchi up as well. That is not necessary. Not in

a fast car like Tabac. So, a lot of bad boys out there.

They have backed out now. We know who has not made it through. No-one

else is going to improve on the lap. It means that both Saubers are out.

At the top it was Jean-Eric Vergne, the Frenchman, and we know that

subjectity, Gutierrez, Bianchi, Chiltern, Kobayashi and Ericsson not

going through. Well, no shocks there.

Daniel Fiat has made it through. He has done very well. .

Look at this. Bang. He gets himself together, puts on a new nose in the

car. I had written him off. He actually came back to get out of the

qualifying, into the next session. And let's have a look at the

Ericsson Massa incident. This is being investigated for causing a

collision. What do you make of it. I will have to look at that from a

different angle. Here is the situation. I think that look, he is

in the corner too quick. Is he going to make it around? I am not sure.

Did Massa turn into the line? It will be 50/50.

The applause at the end by Massa inferred, well done, mate. It was a

very sarcastic remark. We will have to see. If you take the body

language, maybe Massa was in the clear. But we have to see what the

situation is. He will be upset, if that car does

not make it back, he will not anybody the second session.

Let's find out what happened. Marcus, tell us what happened? I was

locked down into turn six. I went into the wall. Massa was there on

the outside. Have you spoken to him? No, I have

just gotten back now. We saw a slow sarcastic hand clap as

you ended up on the wall alongside Ericsson, how are you feeling?

Nothing to say. There was space for him to pass me. He went over my car.

It is really a shame. Qualifying was not so bad on that

moment. I was maybe tenth. It would have been possible to fight. But we

don't have a very competitive car on this drive. It could have been

possible to fight, though. So my qualifying now has finished there.

Tomorrow, I don't know. It will be tricky. A difficult race.

Starting not on the right position. So, not nice.

You are an experienced Formula One driver, he has never driven a

formula car around here, do you have a word with him? I think he

understands what he did. I think that the FI understand. But he needs

to come to me. I will not come to him. I never did that in my life.

The minimum he can say is sorry. The second part of qualifying is

underway, again Mercedes have their cars at the end of the pit lane

ready to go. In the first session they did not use the soft tyres,

they were slightly eclipsed by the Toro Rosso and Jean-Eric Vergne. In.

Jean-Eric Vergne was fastest. Daniel scraping in? It was a good comeback

from Daniel. He had the moment of moments in the braking zone, into

the chicane. Understandably he was tentative after. But he is through

to the next part. Now the focus is trying to make the top ten.

Tom, the lap times did not improve as the teams were expecting. What

can we expect from this one? You are right. I have had a few apologies

from the engineers. They are now saying that a 17. 5 is

looking like the cut off. That is for Q 3. I had said it was for Q 2.

You are on board with Lewis Hamilton. He has heat in the tyres.

Watch him. We watched Rosberg at the top of the hill, so a switch from

one to the other. Through Casino Square goeses areberg.

The year before the Mercedes had the fastest qualifying time here at

Monaco, courtesy of Schumm. -- Michael Schumacher.

There are various incidents after qualifying, and a owe ten --

potential impeding incident between Gutierrez and Perez. There is

another incident for impeding between Pastor Maldonado and another

driver. I think that the stewards are going to be pretty busy here.

So far on the lap is Rosberg, quicker in the first sector, slower

in the second. So it is very much at the beginning of this qualifying Q

it session about how they finish the lap in the last sector.

16. 6.6 for Rosberg. That is the fastest that we have seen. Let's see

what Lewis Hamilton does in response.

This is going to be another great rivalry.

With the laps they have achieved the target for this part of qualifying,

the real battle for pole comes in Q 3. Daniel Riccardio comes to the

last part of the Swimming Pool. It is the entry to the high-peed

chicane, it is where Lewis Hamilton is appearing to be losing time.

These are corners he must focus on. Can Daniel Riccardio get closer to

the Mercedes? He is half a second down. He was closer this morning.

Now we are with Fernando Alonso. You have to save the best to last in

Monaco. He is fourth fastest but a big difference in time between

Alonso and the leaders. Fernando Alonso used the soft set of

tyres in the previous session. Yep, he is on the tyres he used

earlier. It looks like he has a lot of front

slip in the car. There is JeanAlessi. He was always great to

watch in street circuits. This is the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen, my

goodness, he was close to the barrier there. More room on the way

into the final part of the Swimming Pool section. A forker pole and race

winner here some years ago. A good sector for Kimi Raikkonen. The

fastest of anybody. So a happenedy lap for the Flying Finn.

He losing out in the last part of the lap but a fraction faster than

his team-mate to go fourth at this stage.

Mercedes are acing the first sector, close to Red Bull. But four tenths

faster than the fastest Ferrari. That is a lot of lap time to give

away. Less than a tenth is separated

between the riders, Daniel Riccardio and Alonso.

This is a lovely view from Casino Square.

Now, Daniel Kvyat. He made a mistake in the first part of qualifying.

Hitting the barrier. Scraping through in 16th place, he is seventh

for the moment. He is faster than his team-mate.

No, now, he is referring to the electrical power he needs to do a

fast lap. I wonder if there is a difference between the different

teams, the power units in how they are able to charge up the electrical

energy. Mercedes don't seem to have a problem with that but maybe a

different story for Red Bull. He backed out of the lap with the

issues. There are 15 runners in the session.

Massa will not take part. So, he is 20.2. That is about three tenths

down on Rosberg in the first sector, so it suggests that the K is

working. Not as quick as his team-mate there. Let's see, a long

whosation before getting on the power for the corns.

-- corners. He is using the tyres to slow the car going through from the

left to the right. He is hesitant to go to full power. Three tenths down

to the middle sector to the best overall lap. Looking to be about

half a second from the fastest lap depending on how he finishes the

last corner. The target is to be top ten.

Let's see if it is enough. He is across the line in fourth. Almost

the same lap time as his team-mate. Now we don't know what that problem

is, if that is referring to the lack of electrical energy. But whatever

it is, Vuelta a Espana is not sounding happy. He should be safely

in the top ten. Grosjean continues the lap. He is looking tidy. Looks

like he is pacing himself. He is building up the lap through

Tabac. Through the pieing-speed chicane it is tighter the second

part of the exit of the Swimming Pool.

No issue for Grosjean as he goes through the last turn.

Both Lotus cars are through. 12 is the best for the moment for

Grosjean. It looks like Lotus will be struggling to get a car, let

alone two into the top ten today. On board now with Nico Hulk.

-- Nico Hulkenberg. Perez has put a lap in as well. Nico

Hulkenberg is ninth. Perez is down... Perez is coming up to

complete his lap. He looks the same lap time. He will be around the area

where Nico Hulkenberg currently sits.

Let's see how the rivalry stands. Perez is a little quicker. That puts

Nico Hulkenberg into the danger territory but knowledges Jenson

Button into the drop-zone. It is still not enough. He has been pushed

down to the 13th place. Pastor Maldonado, I don't think he is able

to improve significantly. He crosses the line, Pastor Maldonado, no

change. He is in 15th place. There is Pastor Maldonado. It looks like

Lotus are going out but what about Jenson Button? He has done a lap. He

did a quick first sector. He had to back out of it. He is running out of

time with a minute-and-a-half to go. Rosberg is fastest of all in the

second sectors. So the interteam battle continues.

A great lap by Rosberg. Going faster again. But Hamilton is a on a quick

lachlt Ricardo has gone up the hill at a personal best. Hamilton has

gone purple in the middle sector. You are riding with Grosjean.

He backed out of it. Lewis Hamilton is coming through.

Look at the lap time... Yes! Fastest by a tenth. Perez just crossing the

line there. We're waiting for Bottas in the Williams. Bottas 13th, not

enough for him. Button still outside the top ten. Button trying to make

it round. Where is Jenson Button? He zapped the last corner now, so he

will get one more lap in as he attempts to get into that top ten.

Looking at Jean-Eric Vergne, who's been impressive so far in

qualifying. He was fastest in the first part, but this is a real

battle now to try and get into the final top ten shoot out. Look at him

slithering and sliding. Fantastic! He knows this is it. Last chance for

Jean-Eric Vergne. The Frenchman, is close to a home Grand Prix for the

French drivers as it gets. Great effort by Jean-Eric Vergne. His

team-mate is currently 10th. Hulkenberg is out. It looks as

though he's been outqualified by his team-mate, Daniil Kvyat. Vergne,

that's remarkable. Button is struggling a bit. Jenson Button

could be out of qualifying here. Can the Lotus do any more than it has

done so far? It can't. Romain Grosjean is out of the top ten. He

is 14th. Bottas, he has failed to make it as well. Neither Williams

will be in the top ten. That's a bit of a surprise based on the past

they've shown at other circuits. Jenson Button is not going to make

it. He's not fast enough in either the first or second sectors. Let's

just confirm that. He's changing up early, he's back at it all off. He

knows he's not there. He has been outqualified by his team-mate. He is

not made it into the top ten. The 2000 Monaco pole winner and race

winner will not be happy about that. Hamilton fastest in the second part

of qualifying. Rosberg just attend behind. The gap a little bit bitter

to Vettel, Alonso and Ricciardo, but the drivers who are definitely out

of the session Hulkenberg, Button, was Jean, Maldonado and Massa.

Definitely a more controlled session, that one. It wasn't a good

session for Jenson Button, who has been outqualified by his team-mate.

Starting with Daniil Kvyat first, right from the moment when he lost

his front nose. Let us not forget, the first time in a Formula One car

here at Monaco, a very daunting track. A first-class effort from

him. Jenson, what can we say? More of the same, lacklustre, in my

opinion. Sadly, against Jenson, because his team-mate did do an

amazing job. In the past, Jenson has told us he thought the team was

being held back just a tiny piece by not having an experienced codriver

alongside him. Well, I'm sorry, his codriver and partner and team-mate

is in front of him here. Jenson, you have to find something else and you

have to find a new sense of speed. We want you up there and this isn't

good enough. Shoot out coming for you in a minute. First of all, let's

hear from Jenson. What was the problem out there

today? Key one was all right, I was fifth or sixth in that. But in key

two, on my first time lap, I had one of the Toro Rossos... I don't think

he saw me but then he did, tried to back out but there wasn't room for

two cars in that part. Is it good news that your team-mate is out

there in the car and is a little bit stronger, or is it not really

helping so much now you are standing here? Know, first of all it yourself

you think about and then the team. The car should be in key three but I

didn't get enough out of it. COMMENTATOR: Such a crucial pole

position, when you consider that nine out of the ten last Grand Prix

here have been won from that top spot. Lewis Hamilton has never taken

pole position here in Monaco. He has won the race but he hasn't taken the

top spot in qualifying. Let's see whether he can. The rivalry with his

team-mate, Nico Rosberg, who was on pole position here last year is as

hot as ever. The prospect for a wonderful 12 minute session is very

high. Going out onto the circuit first of all is the Force India of

Sergio Perez. Both the Ferraris have made it into the top ten. Alonso

leads his team-mate, Raikkonen, to the end of the pit lane. On this

beautiful afternoon in the Mediterranean around the streets of

Monaco, we are set for a great duel for pole position definitely,

between the two Mercedes drivers, but perhaps again the Red Bulls of

Ricciardo and Vettel can try and join in. I don't think the Ferraris

are quite quick enough to threaten either Mercedes or Red Bull. It

would take a Herculean effort to get anywhere near that front row. It

really has closed up on the shorter track, but it looks as if Red Bull

are the only team, if at all, it can challenge Mercedes. They've got a 12

minute session. They should have a couple of sets of tyres available.

Some people have already used quite a few sets of the super-softs to get

to this point. That means they may only have one brand-new set left

available to them. Ferrari definitely having to use the

super-soft to get through the first part of qualifying, so less tyres

available to them. You were riding on board with Sergio Perez here, as

the Mexican build-up to a big attempt. Remember, he did a great

job in Bahrain earlier this year. He ended up with a podium finish, his

best result and the best result of the team so far this season. Again,

he is out qualifying his rated team-mate, Hulkenberg.

He has also had a big accident here in the past, so he will want to

forget that as he goes on to a flying lap. A clear track ahead of

him. The next guy up the road is Magnussen, but he's down at the

hairpin. Just about building up what he's learned so far through this

session. Any tweaks he could have made to the car, any control,

differential, adjust his brake balance and make a front wing

adjustment. The tyre pressures have a big influence over the car. The

mechanical spring rate of the car is as much controlled by the tyre

pressure as it is by the torsion bar suspension may have on these cars.

By the time you spot the braking correctly, you've broken the back of

the lap now. Can you double-check whether... I've got Kvyat on and out

lap. They are short of tyres. There's nobody behind you, mate.

They are about the scene sequence as us. Talking about Toro Rosso, they

have a Renault engine as well. It looks as though the Renault engine

cars might have a slightly different sequence. Talking about maintaining

the state of charge in the Renault powered cars is proving to be more

of a management programme than for the Mercedes powered cars. I don't

know if that's what they are talking about. It highlights how relaxed and

detailed the conversation is whilst out there on track. Vettel is only

on and out lap, not a hot lap, but, none the less, you can see he's not

only trying to find his way out around the lap, he's trying to pick

up information about where the gaps. When he's likely to see a car

up the road, being able to work out whether they are on a slow lap or

charging lap. Jean-Eric Vergne crosses the line and set the initial

pace. He's on a set of the super-soft tyres. It's not as quick

as he managed on the faster, new tyre in the second part of

qualifying. My goodness, it's always good to watch Alonso when he is

attacking, and he is certainly attacking the Monaco circuit,

bouncing the car over the kerb. Wonderful reactions to keep the car

pointing straight forwards rather than bouncing into the barriers.

Alonso coming around to complete the lap. Also, I believe, on a scrub set

of tyres. A very impressive lap. That was a new set, he went straight

out on a new set. He is fastest for the moment, Raikkonen goes second

fastest for the moment, Raikkonen goes second-fastest. That was on a

scrub set. Going on. Hamilton is flying on track at the moment. Let's

see what Rosberg does. Fastest about Hamilton, can he beat that? He's got

a fast middle sector, it's going to be very close between them. No, not

quite this time. 59,000th of a second on the first attempt to take

this pole position. Was Berg claims initial honours but there are still

six and a half minutes to go. -- Rosberg. Hamilton was tentative

through the last turn. That is crucially where Rosberg is keeping

the advantage. Vettel not quite as quick as his team-mate. Magnussen in

the McLaren. Also Mercedes powered. He has done extremely well to get

into the top ten with the McLaren. He gets it cleanly out of the last

corner as well. Let's see where this puts him in the order, eighth for

the moment. Behind Jean-Eric Vergne, ahead Perez and Kvyat for

now. Kimi Raikkonen in Ferrari, looking to try and improve the time

on a new set of these super-soft tyres. Podiums here in his victory

of 2005, but again in 2003 and then in 2009. The last couple of years

with Lotus not been quite so successfully finished, ninth and

10th. Last year he just to be claimed that 10th place on the last

lap of the Grand Prix to continue what was a remarkable sequence of

point-scoring finishes. He just managed it here in Monaco last year.

But he's not back with Ferrari. Never won this race when he was at

Ferrari. It was only with McLaren that he took that victory in 2005.

He builds up his pace, just coming up to the last part of the lap to

get that crucial exit out of the last corner. A cloudless sky in

Monaco. The final two or three minutes of qualifying, the

crescendo. It could well be the deciding moments of this year's

Grand Prix. Crossed the line, Kimi Raikkonen onto his flying lap.

Currently sixth fastest. The entry looked committed, he looked a bit

hesitant on the exit. Through Casino. Nice, early first apex.

Dropping off over the rise. Moves around to go over the hump. Tidy so

far. 20.04 in that first sector. Similar to Magnussen. Alonso is not

pushing on this lap, interestingly. He's going to wait for the next one

by the looks of it. Meanwhile, Vettel has been told to stay on

setting charge 13, it's the only way we are going to deal with the

problem. It is definitely some sort of electrical energy problem that

Vettel was having. Vettel saying, OK, it's feeling OK at the moment.

Maybe they are managing it correctly and he's going to be able to put in

a good lap. Nice and tidy through the Chicane, just bounces left,

bounces right. The second last corner. Didn't look as good through

the lower speed. A bit wide on the turn there. He is fighting it. He

lost a bit of time on the exit. He is still sixth with that, a

fractional improvement in time. But he is still some way off Alonso,

some six tenths of a second off Alonso's time from earlier. Rosberg

building up to a lap. Currently fastest, but will he stay there or

Will Lewis Hamilton snatch it away once again, as we have seen him do?

But not last year, Hamilton beaten by his team-mate here, as they went

to go one, two on the front row, Rosberg taking the advantage. Let's

ride on board with him here. Let's see what this first sector gives us.

He's gone straight on! He's going to run out of time to put in another

lap. 30 seconds to go. He won't get back to the line. It will depend on

Hamilton's final lap now. Hamilton has just started. There is a yellow

up in that area. They will get the car moved pretty quickly. Keep an

eye on him, because he's been breathtakingly fast here this

weekend on several laps, but can he really apply any pressure now in the

dying moments of this session? Look at that, the car moving around, such

commitment. The first sector is not good enough, though, to tenths down.

Maybe a bit closer than he has been by about ten. He has qualified well

this year, can he do it again? I don't think it will be enough. He

comes across the line and he stays third. Third fastest but Daniel

Ricciardo --. I think Hamilton has backed out of it. He has. He had to

pass that area and yellow flags. Hamilton has been beaten to pole

position in Monaco. He still doesn't have that first-ever pole in

Monaco. Despite Nico Rosberg making a mistake, it's all come down to

their initial run. It is Rosberg who has taken back to back Monaco polls.

In the end, it was a little bit of an anti-climax because it was Berg

made the mistake, Hamilton was unable to challenge, maybe because

of the yellow flags, and Rosberg has emerged as the pole winner. He has

ended the mini sequence will Lewis Hamilton. It means he has taken his

second pole position of the year. It is 2-1 to him in dry conditions,

even if Hamilton has had the edge over all this season. The sixth pole

position of his career and the first back-to-back pole-sitter in Monaco

since Fernando Alonso did it in 2006 and 2007. But Alonso did it for two

different teams. Rosberg has achieved what he set out to, despite

the little error. I wonder how Lewis Hamilton is feeling right now. I can

see Lewis on the far side, stepping away from the car. It has been taken

away from him, that position he wanted.

You have to say, Rosberg got his car out of the way as much as he could.

But the yellow flags were always going to fly when there is a car

down the escape road. Hamilton is quietly looking away.

Well, that is the story then. Rosberg has taken pole position here

in Monaco for the second year in a row. Lewis Hamilton was unable to

challenge at the end because of the yellow flags. Once again Daniel

Riccardio outqualified Vettel. And Ferrari are in team formation.

A brilliant effort from Toro Rosso. And the two rookies are into the top

ten, Perez in tenth position and Nico Hulkenberg in 11th.

Massa was out of luck today along with Bottas.

Well, Mercedes continue the pole position whitewash of the season.

This was the replay of Rosberg's mistake, David.

He looked to turn in and thought against it. He locked up, at this

point he is probably in full panic mode of how to get back out. But the

yellow flags were out and it was all over. Nico, it was good to get that

time. We saw a mistake but you must be relieved you held on to it? I

thought it was over in that moment. I really excuse myself to the team.

I thought that was it. But then of course I blocked Lewis

on his lap. I don't know if he was up or not or whatever. So a pity

from that side but happy that it worked out.

Lewis said he was set for pole position but the yellows stopped him

in his tracks. You are the one with the clear view tomorrow? In

hindsight it worked out for me like that but that is not the way that I

want to get a pole position of course.

So, Nico Rosberg not celebrating in the normal way and those people who

will be saying rightly or wrongly, that he did it deliberately to slow

the yellows down. So let's have a look. David, talk us through your

thoughts. If you look at the position, he is in the same position

as the first pedestrian crossing. Moving on to the pedestrian bridge,

the line is as near as within a few centimetres but where it changes,

watch the pole lap. The mistake lap he saws away from the steering

wheel, from the right to the left to the right. That seems out of

character, give than the front tyre has not locked up. Then when he

commits to the corner and locks the tyre, he goes down the escape road.

The stewards will want to know what was going on with the car. If he had

a puncture and you looked at the camera and the steering, that is to

explain how he loses the control of the car but we are not aware of a

membering alcan issue. But the save your, he drove to the end of the

safety road and out of harm's way. Yes, there was a yellow flag but it

is not like Schumacher getting past the car in the corner.

It is not in his nature? No, it is not in his nature. I am not sure

that he would have been certain of a yellow flag. Earlier, Massa and

Ericsson had a similar shunt. They removed the cars. They were parked

there. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. I do not

believe he would have known had there been a yellow flag.

Good point, Mercedes are being investigated by the stewards. Let's

hear from Lewis now. Lewis, mixed emotions, it is not

your turn this time? Yes. It is motorsport.

How disappointed were you when you saw the yellow flag? Could you have

done it? Could you have gotten pole position? It doesn't matter, I

should have done it in the lap before.

And Nico explain he went straight on, have you seen it? I haven't. But

I will look into it when I get back. Well, we are joined by Daniil Kvyat

from Toro Rosso. What a great day for you. A terrific result

qualifying in the ninth, it did not start so well, though, did it? I

think that I have white hairs after qualifying. It was tricky. There is

a lot going on in Monaco. Especially in Q 1. I am looking at it now. A

lot of running. But I think that I still managed to enter the Q 3 after

the accident. So that was fine. What was the cause of that. Is that

to do do with the recoverable energy or braking late over the raise? I

did not consider that the prime time does not give us an option. I took

the bump. It is a question of a little bit of space. It is the first

time in the weekend that I took the corner in such a way and the rear

could not take it. Bearing in mind now that you have

qualified, fantastic. Did you think it was all over at this stage? I

tried to see if the suspension was fine. .

I knew that the front wing was gone. But I kept cool, I said that the

suspension was fine, there was a flat spot but it is important that

we can carry on. You were calm on the radio, we saw that. An

intelligent day today, considering you have never been around here, we

wish you all the best for the race. Daniel Riccardio, I wonder if you

are disappointed not to have front row? I know you wanted it? I am

disappointed, to be honest. He thinks that I did a good job.

But, frustrated. I think that the second round in Q 3

was the lap that could have been the one. It was looking good until turn

eight. Then I lent on the car to hope that it would throw me around

the corner but I lost the rear. That was the lap over. Clearly

disappointing but still an impressive lap. You seemed strong

consistently around the lap. You could maybe take us on a lap. Take

us away. So, turn one is bumpy on the entry. It is easy to overshoot

as we have seen the cars doing this week. So it is about getting a clean

exit there. Carrying the speed into turn three. It is easy to overshoot

that as well. Breaking into turn five. On the second run I was mega

through there before having a moment in turn out. Then here on the kerbs,

a bit of undersears, trailing with the left front and trying to get out

of there clean. Through the tunnel, you put on the night shades and

break for the chicane. The car is good on a braking hill. Rear on the

stable. Good on the kerbs. This is my favourite part of the

track, turn 12, then the Swimming Pool is awful. Then into the... I

don't know the name of this chicane, maybe you can tell us? It is just

the chickain. Well, here I was a little scrappy.

The last sector has been strong for me this week. But I sound miserable

but I think that the second run would have a little nicer.

Daniel, we have to ask you the all-important question, Vuelta a

Espana, four times the world champion, you still continue to

outqualify him. What is this saying to your mind at the moment? It is

nice to be ahead again -- Vettel. It is frustrating. I don't care

where he is. I feel we could have been closer to the pole position.

But that is eating me up. But in general I have been happy with how I

have performed this week. So that is good. Let's see what happens

tomorrow. I think that will be exciting.

We wish you all the best for tomorrow. Apparently there may be a

chance of a shower. You never know. OK.

Let's hear from Sebastian. Sebastian, a lot of problems?

Unfortunately, yes. We have lost the ability to use the

electric power to discharge the car. We didn't get it back. In the end we

ran it in a mode that was fine but surely not as good as it should be.

But the most important is that the car was quick.

I thought we could give the Mercedes a hard time but we struggled

ourselves and the gap was too big. We have the news that the stewards

will take no further action regarding the per Mercedes enquiry.

What would they have gone through with this investigation? The

stewards have the opportunity to investigate anything that they feel

should be looked at. They have done that here. There is a time period.

It sometimes feel a little long but it gives the teem an opportunity to

bring together the opportunity and present it. They have the radio

cameras, the television cameras, the radio conversations, and the people

explaining how things were so that you can reference every lap. You can

ref rans last year or anyone else. Once they have gone through all of

that, they will do that because of the importance of this incident,

then they will finally make a decision. That is that we have heard

that Nico Rosberg is starting in pole position.

So, pole position, are you happy with that? I think so. Clearly it

had to be investigated but why it took so long, I think that is

another matter. Will this affect Lewis? Well he

really wanted to lay down the marker to Nico. In the end, Nico grew up on

these streets. He delivered. That is where the disappointment is coming

from for Lewis Hamilton. And Marcus Ericsson is starting at

the back of the grid to tomorrow? He has a penalty and two points on the

licence. It was called straight away he would receive something and

correctly so. So, the battle is on with the

Mercedes boys, one against. Suzi, the gloves are off. This is a

war zone. The Hamilton/Rosberg situation can only get better, more

juicy and more exciting. Now, let's remind ourselves of how

the grid is to line up for tomorrow's race:

So, that is how the grid lines up for the all-important race tomorrow.

Eddie, who will be celebrating? I think that the Mercedes cars will

have a coming together and Ricardo will dive through and take the

laurels that are here. That is interesting. Catch the highlights

with us tomorrow on BBC One at 5. 05pm. So, it is Nico Rosberg who

edged out Lewis Hamilton today. Thank you very much guys, thanks for

watching. We will see you tomorrow. MUSIC: "Kickin' It Up"

by Virus Syndicate # Because I do what I want

I be kickin' it up # I be livin' it up

Kickin' it up # Cos I be livin' it up

And never give it up... #