So weren’t we just saying a returning champion would be the driver to watch at Monaco this weekend? Admittedly we did have our eye on Kimi Raikkonen, but the sentiment was correct; it was always going to take an extra brush of class to edge pole at Monaco in this, the closest season in 30 years.

But Michael Schumacher? When he has made Q3 this year he’s normally sat it out, preferring to save his tyres. Or his energy, bless. Two weeks’ ago we reckon Michael’s five point grid penalty was well made, today we’re cursing it for standing between us and a possible moment of magic tomorrow. Michael won’t win from fifth. Then again we never thought he’d put the F1 W03 on pole.

Mark Webber, remember him? The lantern-jawed Aussie shuffles up from second to pole, with Nico Rosberg joining him on the front row. Lewis Hamilton and Romain Grosjean will line up behind, followed by the Ferraris, which both took part in Q3 for the first time this year, Felipe Massa just one tenth of a second behind Fernando Alonso.

And just to think, two weeks ago it looked over for Schumacher and Massa.

Our man Raikkonen meanwhile could only manage eighth place in the James Hunt helmet (and did you see the BBC’s report from the set of ‘Rush’? How spookily like Hunt does ‘Thor’ look? And as for Daniel Bruhl, could he actually be related to Niki Lauda?)

Maldonado and Vettel bring up the rear of the top ten. Vettel sat Q3 out (booo!) and Maldonado will start 19th having been awarded his very own penalty after a nasty move on Sergio Perez in FP3 worthy of Joey Barton. Hmm… don’t let it all go to your head Pastor!

Jenson Button will start 13th having once again not made Q3. We make no secret of having a bit of a crush on Jenson, so we’ll come back to him in our new qualifying review posting tomorrow morning.

Right. Post your thoughts then get get early to bed. The Monaco GP is tomorrow and the Indy 500 follows.