Daniel Ricciardo on pole in Monaco

Mikhail Aleshin (Carlin), leader of the Formula championship Renault 3.5 Series, provided the essentials in Monaco. Although he only achieved the fourth fastest time in cumulative qualifying, the Russian driver obtained the best time in group A. He will start in second position on the starting grid, behind Daniel Ricciardo (Tech 1 Racing), the fastest driver in group B. It is then the alternation according to the original group: the drivers of group B will start from odd places, those from group A from even places. Daniel Ricciardo will therefore start ahead of Mikhail Aleshin, Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) and Stefano Coletti (Comtec).

« This is the pole we had to do! », welcomes Ricciardo, member of the Red Bull Junior Team. “ Everything came down to the last lap, which is typical on an urban track. We try to go faster and faster and we take more and more risks, as long as we haven't hit the rails. I was a little cautious, but Simon Abadie, my team manager, told me on the radio to give it my all! Pole is a first step, then the start is essential here. For now I am the happiest of men? »

Mikhail Aleshin, championship leader, does not want to be sure yet and hopes to be able to win on the Rock. “ I'm a little disappointed, because the track was faster for the second group, so it was difficult for me to take pole position. However, it is important to be on the front line. Tomorrow, I will give everything to win, I am not in a position where we can calculate. For me, victory is important, it is not yet time to think about the championship. »