Happy Alonso savours first McLaren pole

Alonso beat teammate Lewis Hamilton with a last-minute flying lap of 1:15.726 to end Ferrari's supremacy in qualifying this season, after the Italian squad had started from the top spot in all the previous Grands Prix.

"I am very, very happy, a very important pole position and qualifying had a little bit of everything going on," said Alonso, on pole at Monaco for the second year in a row.

"We were expecting rain, it came but very light, so it stayed only one lap and then picked up speed.

"We had traffic, but you cannot expect to avoid all the traffic in qualifying," added the Spaniard, who claimed he could have gone faster if not for Williams driver Nico Rosberg slowing him down. 

"Absolutely, I think Nico was unlucky because when he left the pits he did a very good out lap and crossed the line with one second but not enough to hold me up in last few corners. It's difficult to get a clear lap," he added.

The McLaren driver, winner at the principality last season, is now looking to turn his pole into his second victory of the year.

"I think all the weekend has been quite good for us," he said. "This morning in the wet the car seemed to be quite competitive and we were at the top.

"Qualifying has been good and to be on pole at Monaco like last year is very, very important. And to get the  first pole of McLaren-Mercedes is special. I am very happy.

"I think always Monaco is very special to be on pole but also be as long as you can, you need to find a compromise. We will see tomorrow how our competitors found the perfect strategy and hopefully our strategy will be better.

"It will be interesting, with weather conditions as well."