The Australian racer had to settle for third in qualifying, behind his team-mate Lando Norris who took his second pole position of the season

Emerging at speed from Monte Carlo's famous tunnel is like waking up mid-dream. Your eyes reel from the sudden burst of sunlight -- a flash-bang of Riviera brilliance. Ahead is the glittering harbor,

Lando Norris broke the track record to qualify on pole position Saturday for Formula 1's Monaco Grand Prix, besting Charles Leclerc and title rival Oscar Piastri. Norris and Leclerc swapped fastest times before the McLaren driver upped the pace again to take first by .

Pole position is always a huge asset in Monaco because of the tight circuit.This year, however, teams and drivers are heading into the unknown on Sunday. That’s because Formula 1 is giving a trial to a Monaco-only mandatory rule of pitting twice,

McLaren have not held back as they’ve brought a Monaco-spec MCL39 to Monte Carlo, the Woking team looking to stop Red Bull’s charge in its tracks. McLaren’s winning streak came to an abrupt end at Imola where Max Verstappen raced his upgraded Red Bull RB21 to the victory ahead of the McLaren team-mates.