Albon grabs third consecutive F2 pole in Monaco, Norris 17th

Alexander Albon made it three consecutive FIA Formula 2 pole positions in 2018, pipping Nyck de Vries to the fastest time in Monaco. 

The DAMS driver posted a 1m21.737s in the first group of 10 drivers and that time would not be beaten, though Prema’s de Vries got within 0.010s of Albon’s effort in the second group, with F2 qualifying split into two separate 16 minute sessions around the streets of Monte Carlo. 

Behind front-row starters Albon and de Vries, the rest of the grid is determined by the order drivers finished their respective sessions, meaning Russian Time’s Artem Markelov will start from third - marking the Renault F1 development driver’s best qualifying result of the season after he changed chassis heading into the weekend.

Carlin’s Sergio Sette Camara is due to start from fourth despite a heavy crash that brought out the red flags in the closing stages of qualifying. The Brazilian slammed into the barriers after losing his car mid-corner through St. Devote, before reporting over team radio that he believed he could have broken his hand in the impact. 

Antonio Fuoco was third-fastest in the opening group and will start fifth, ahead of Campos Racing’s Luca Ghiotto, who finished third quickest in the second group.

Arden's Maximilian Gunther, fourth quickest in the opening session, will line up from seventh on the Monaco grid with Haas development driver Arjun Miani alongside him.

Miani’s Trident teammate and fellow Haas junior Santino Ferrucci impressed with the fifth quickest time in Group A and starts from ninth, with MP Motorsport’s Ralph Boschung rounding out the top 10. 

Championship leader Lando Norris endured a qualifying session to forget. The McLaren F1 reserve driver had been quickest during the early stages of the opening group but damaged his front wing as he collided with the wall on the exit of the Swimming Pool chicane and will line up from 17th. 

The Carlin driver is also under investigation for impeding Albon in the final sector as the pole sitter looked to complete an early flying lap. Fellow countryman George Russell will start alongside Norris in 18th after struggling to get up to speed after an engine issue limited his practice running.