Raikkonen takes pole for today’s Monaco GP; Hamilton finishes 14th

Motor-racing Formula 1

make a stupid story or something. It’s going to be a long, difficult race.”

Even more so for Hamilton, whose chances of a third win at Monaco and 56th overall now look extremely remote.

The British driver headed into the weekend six points behind Vettel and aiming to move level with Ayrton Senna’s total of 65 pole positions. Instead, the threetime F1 champion could only get the 14th best time.

While Vettel and Raikkonen took 1-2 earlier in final practice, Hamilton was only fifth.

His form failed to improve in qualifying, twice wobbling on the track after losing grip on his car.

Vettel narrowly missed out on a 48th career pole.

“The car was really nice to drive. I was probably a bit too greedy and wanted a bit too much,” Vettel said. “The bottom line is that it’s a great result for the team.”

Qualifying is split into three sections, with five eliminated from Q1 and Q2 to leave 10 fighting it out in Q3.

Verstappen was fastest in Q1 ahead of Vettel and Raikkonen, with Hamilton already an ominous 10th.

Hamilton had a near miss early into Q2 when his car wobbled at the Massenet turn and he complained of a lack of grip. Mercedes took him back into the garage for a tire change but he continued to struggle with the car’s balance.

“I can’t pinpoint the problem,” said Hamilton, who shook his head in disbelief. “It’s disappointing.”

McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne had crashed near the end of Q2, meaning that a yellow flag ended it about one minute early. But Hamilton was arguably too far behind to make it into the top 10 shootout.

Earlier, in final practice, Frenchman Esteban Ocon - driving at the Monaco GP for the first time - crashed his Force India car. He misjudged a turn coming out near the Swimming Pool exit and went straight on into the barriers, mangling his car’s suspension.

The 20-year-old Frenchman, fifth at the Spanish GP two weeks ago, made it for qualifying but failed to get into Q2.

The grid

Jerome Pugmire AP Sports Writer Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen took pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix yesterday, and title contender Lewis Hamilton failed to make the top 10 in a significant blow for Mercedes. Ferrari has been quick all weekend...