Lewis Hamilton has revealed he was hoping Fernando Alonso would clinch pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver twice survived elimination in qualifying around the principality's streets to eventually wind up sixth on the grid, two places ahead of teammate George Russell. Hamilton will, however, start fifth following a grid penalty for Charles Leclerc. But neither could get involved in the enthralling battle for pole that saw Ferrari driver Leclerc and Alpine's Esteban Ocon provisionally on top within the dying embers of the session. When Aston Martin driver Alonso crossed the line to take top spot, his time seemed insurmountable with Red Bull's Max Verstappen two-tenths down after the opening two sectors. The Dutchman wouldn't take no for an answer and delivered a scintillating final sector time to deny Alonso a first pole since the 2012 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. Addressing qualifying, Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.com : "When you think about it, we are having to rely on others currently. So when you have Checo in the wall, like... 'thank you'. "Ocon came out of nowhere, he did a great lap. I was really hopeful Fernando would have pole at the end - I saw it and was like 'oh, this could be amazing for him'. "But that Red Bull was just too quick. But I mean wow, the Aston is now almost on par with that Red Bull? It's just phenomenal work. "I am really happy for Aston and yeah, hopefully we can be there soon."
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