McLaren Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain drives during qualifying session of Monaco's F1 Grand Prix in Monte Carlo yesterday. He took the pole position. -Reuters

MONACO, (Reuters):

FERNANDO ALONSO will start today's Monaco Grand Prix from pole position with British teammate and Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton alongside an all-McLaren front row.

Brazilian Felipe Massa had to settle for third place for Ferrari with his run of three poles in a row ended by the Spanish double world champion who won the showcase race for Renault last year.

Ferrari had been on pole for the past six races but Alonso, with the 16th pole of his career and second in a row in Monaco, gave McLaren their first since Kimi Raikkonen at Monza in Italy last September.

Threatened rain held off after morning showers in a tense session that left the McLaren drivers, divided by two points at the top, well placed for their second one-two of the season.

"I think this year is a little more special regarding the weather conditions, that are not 100 per cent sure either wet or dry," said Alonso. "I think it could be a very difficult race and a little bit like a lottery for everybody.

"The race is so long that even pole position means nothing, probably," he added.

Hamilton, just 22 years old and chasing his fifth podium finish in five races after becoming the youngest championship leader, was quickest until Alonso went faster with only seconds remaining.

quicker ones

"I think if you look at it, we're the quicker ones this weekend," said Hamilton, who might have taken pole for the most glamorous race of the season had he not been held up by Australian Mark Webber's Red Bull.

"We've got a great car, the best car ... so I have absolutely no worries going into the race."

Raikkonen, now with Ferrari, will start 16th - a big setback at a circuit notorious for the lack of overtaking possibilities - after striking the metal barrier at the harbourside Swimming Pool chicane and breaking the steering.

The Finn is fourth in the championship, eight points adrift of Hamilton and five behind Massa, and needing to revive his title hopes after winning the Australian season-opener but retiring in Spain this month.

In a flashback to last year, when predecessor Michael Schumacher caused a cheating furore by blocking the track at the penultimate Rascasse corner to secure pole before being demoted, Raikkonen halted at the same spot.

Briton David Coulthard was barred from the final session and later officially listed as 13th for blocking Renault's Finn Heikki Kovalainen in the second session.

Schumacher finished fifth from the back of the grid last year and Raikkonen will be aiming for something similar while hoping for a clash of the McLarens.

Hamilton said that was unlikely.

"We respect each other and we're teammates, we want to do a good job," he said. "We will go into that first corner probably not as aggressive as if we were going into it with a Ferrari.

"We will be conservative and see what happens. We're on different fuel strategies but similar pace."

Renault's Italian Giancarlo Fisichella will start next to Massa, with Williams's German driver Nico Rosberg and Webber behind them.

BMW Sauber's German driver Nick Heidfeld shared the fourth row with Polish teammate Robert Kubica.