2019 Monaco Grand Prix – Saturday

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport lock out the front row in Monaco

• Lewis claimed his 85^th Formula One pole position – his second of the 2019 season and the second of his career in Monte Carlo
• Valtteri will start tomorrow’s race from P2 on the grid – his best-ever grid position in Monaco
• Today’s result marks Lewis’ 59^th pole position with Mercedes in F1, making him the driver with the most pole positions for a single team ever
• Both drivers will start tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix on the Soft tyre

Lewis Hamilton

This is one of the best poles I can remember. We’ve had a lot of success over the years, but I can’t really remember a pole that means as much as this one. It’s been such a difficult week for the whole team and me personally. It’s amazing that we’ve turned up here as a team, continuing to take strides forward together collectively, get stronger and improve our performance weekend in, weekend out. I’m just so proud of everyone. We have a cloud over us this weekend, so we’re really trying to lift each other up and we’r e trying to deliver for Niki. I have not had a huge amount of success in Monaco over the years, I never quite got that perfect lap, but I think today was as close as I can get to it. This one is for Niki.

Valtteri Bottas

I definitely felt like I had the speed to take pole today. My first run in Q3 was quick, but I had two or three tenths in my pocket. I was stuck in traffic on my final out lap in Q3, so my tyres weren’t warm enough for the second run. As soon as I started the lap I could feel that they weren’t gripping and I saw during the lap on the screens that Lewis took pole. For me personally that’