LANDO HITS THE MONACO JACKPOT FOR POLE

FORMULA ONE

- SCOTT HUNT

LANDO Norris banished his qualifying blues to claim pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix.

The British driver set a new record around the streets of Monte Carlo to beat local hero Charles Leclerc to pole by 0.109 seconds.

Norris, who has bemoaned his qualifying slip-ups throughout the season, put it together at the death to clinch his first pole since the season-opener in Melbourne.

Oscar Piastri, who leads McLaren team-mate Norris by 13 points at the top of the championship standings, will start today’s race from third ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.

Max Verstappen, who clinched his second win of the season at Imola last weekend to close to within 22 points of Piastri, qualified fifth.