Palmer, first in Monaco grid

The owner of the pole position in Monaco is Jolyon Palmer. The championship leader will start from the first position the long run to be held tomorrow. Rio Haryanto closes the front row after being both the fastest in their respective groups.

As is traditional in Monaco, the classification was divided into two groups: even numbers and odd numbers. Each group session lasted 16 minutes and the positions of the grid would go alternating depending on the fastest time between the two groups.

The first to go was the group of odd numbers. Palmer was the first to set a time when everyone but Evans were on track. Cecotto improved the lap of Palmer and placed himself in the lead. Meanwhile, Abt climbed to the third position and Nasr was fourth. Trummer was placed second, but Nasr snatched the Swiss position. After setting the fastest first sector, Rossi got second. Nobody seemed to snatch the first position to Abt until Cecotto managed to slip the Venezuelan’s time, but the latter regained the lead.

Five minutes left, Cecotto led the first group, followed by Abt, Marciello, Rossi and Evans in the top 5. Palmer relocated first in what appeared to be a duel between him and Cecotto. Evans rose to third place on the next lap and was placed second.

With the stopwatch, Palmer was the first of the group and making sure the front row on the grid, followed by Evans, Cecotto, Abt and Marciello in the top 5.

It was the time for the second group to do their job. Richelmi set the opening session time and followed the same strategy as his partner Palmer in the first group: setting a time and stopping for new tyres. Canamasas got in first position, followed by Coletti and Quaife-Hobbs, who had an off at Saint Devote but could rejoin the track. the Monegasque from Racing Engineering put his name first, but did not exceed the time of Palmer so far. Vandoorne climbed to second place.

When three minutes were left to finish, Haryanto set the fastest time of the group, but it was still seven tenths slower than Palmer. Vandoorne was second but Richelmi snatched him that position and was just 11 thousandths slower than Haryanto.

The checkered flag was raised and Haryanto finished first in the group, but Palmer had a better time so the British took the pole position. Haryanto will start second, followed by Evans, Richelmi, Cecotto, Vandoorne and Abt at the top ten of the grid.

Updated: Haryanto, Abt, Nasr and Regalia have been penalized with extra three places on the grid for obstructing other drivers during their fastest laps.