Ricciardo takes pole position in Monaco

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Ricciardo takes pole position in Monaco
Ricciardo poses for a photograph with a track marshall.

Monaco - Daniel seized the first pole position of his Formula One career

By Reuters

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Published: Sat 28 May 2016, 9:07 PM

Last updated: Sun 29 May 2016, 1:18 AM

Australian Daniel Ricciardo seized the first pole position of his Formula One career at the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday with world championship leader Nico Rosberg joining him on the front row for Mercedes.
"High time," shouted the Red Bull driver over the team radio after being told the news.
The pole, in a time of one minute 13.622 seconds, was the team's first since Sebastian Vettel at the Brazil Grand Prix in November 2013.
It was also the first time since 2012, when Ricciardo's compatriot Mark Webber was on pole for Red Bull, that Mercedes did not secure the top slot in Monaco.
Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton qualified third, a remarkable recovery after his car suffered a fuel pressure problem at the start of the final session and had to be pushed back along the pitlane.
Ferrari's Vettel will join the Briton on the second row for the season's showcase race, where the harbourside track winds through twisty metal-fenced streets and overtaking is extremely difficult.
Ricciardo, who won three races in 2014 and has made three starts from the front row in his career, came to Monaco with a new and more powerful Tag Heuer-branded Renault engine.
"I knew coming into the weekend we would have a shot at it," said the Australian.
"I have been driving well but haven't quite got maximum rewards so I came into this weekend with a lot of confidence and a lot of belief I could be in this position now."
While Ricciardo celebrated, there was disappointment in the other half of the garage with 18-year-old Dutch driver Max Verstappen crashing in the opening session.


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