Beyond the Flag
Fansided

2017 Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying Results – Raikkonen On Top

By Alex Herbst

Oct 21, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen (7) of Finland during practice for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen (7) of Finland during practice for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

In perhaps the most shocking Formula One qualifying session of the 2017 campaign, Kimi Raikkonen took his first pole since the 2008 French Grand Prix.

For the first time in nine years of Formula One racing, Kimi Raikkonen will start on pole for a Grand Prix race. It has been since the 2008 French Grand Prix that the flying Finn has started at the front, breaking that drought at the crowned jewel race of the F1 calendar, the Monaco Grand Prix.

The session was not only notable for the man on pole, but for the man who will start 14th for Sunday’s race. Championship contender Lewis Hamilton has struggled throughout the weekend with the handling of his car and grip in the tires. This all came to a head in qualifying, where Hamilton was unable to get out of Q2, nearly crashing twice on his own. The former world champion will have his work cut out for him to get near the front of the field.

Meanwhile, back at the front, championship leader Sebastian Vettel will start second, just behind his Ferrari teammate. This has already sparked discussions about team orders for Scuderia Ferrari and whether the team will make Raikkonen give way to Vettel to maximize points, or let the two race it out. Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas will start third, being just 0.002 seconds slower in qualifying than Vettel.

For one driver on Saturday, this was his first qualifying session of 2017. Jenson Button is in at McLaren this weekend, subbing for Fernando Alonso who is off running in the Indianapolis 500. It was an impressive run for Button, qualifying ninth for the Monaco GP, just ahead of teammate Stoffel Vandoorne. However, Button was sent to the rear of the starting grid for Sunday’s race after a 15-place penalty for an engine component change.

Here are the full qualifying results for the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix:

  1. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari
  2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari
  3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, Mercedes AMG Petronas
  4. Max Verstappen, Tag Heuer, Red Bull Racing
  5. Daniel Ricciardo, Tag Heuer, Red Bull Racing
  6. Carlos Sainz Jr., Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso
  7. Romain Grosjean, Ferrari, Haas F1
  8. Sergio Perez, Mercedes, Force India
  9. Jenson Button, Honda, McLaren
  10. Stoffel Vandoorne, Honda, McLaren
  11. Daniil Kvyat, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso
  12. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, Renault Sport
  13. Kevin Magnussen, Ferrari, Haas F1
  14. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Mercedes AMG Petronas
  15. Felipe Massa, Mercedes, Williams Martini Racing
  16. Esteban Ocon, Mercedes, Force India
  17. Jolyon Palmer, Renault, Renault Sport
  18. Lance Stroll, Mercedes, Williams Martini Racing
  19. Pascal Wehrlein, Ferrari, Sauber
  20. Marcus Ericsson, Ferrari, Sauber

Note: Jenson Button will start at the rear due to an engine change.

Next: Bull Vukovich - Greatest Indy 500 Driver That Never Was

Who do you think will win the biggest race on the F1 schedule? Tune in for the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, May 28, with live coverage beginning at 7:30 AM eastern on your local NBC station.

Home/Formula One