A stunning flying lap in qualifying will see Daniel Ricciardo start on pole position for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, where he will take a significant tyre advantage into the race.
It was the Australian's maiden pole position in formula one, having started on the front row four times in his career. The Mercedes drivers, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will start from second and third, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fourth.
Ricciardo finished the second qualifying session with a blistering lap on supersoft tyres, meaning he'll start the Grand Prix on Pirelli's which can run longer than most of his rivals who will start on the new ultrasofts.
In the final qualifying session, Ricciardo immediately recorded a one minute 13.622 seconds, a time that could not be beaten. Rosberg was slightly off that pace and Hamilton suffered engine troubles that compromised his session.
Earlier this week, Ricciardo told Fairfax Media that he was the fastest man on the formula one grid and he intended to prove it. Returning the garage after qualifying he said to his engineers: "Oh yeah, yes, yes. Thankyou guys. Oooh. My time. My F---king time".
Afterwards he told the media he was feeling confident.
"It's definitely a special place," Ricciardo said. "I knew coming into the weekend that we would have a shot at it and we looked good from Thursday ... the last few races I feel like I have been driving well bit haven't got maximum rewards.
"I'm very happy to fulfil that and it feels good. I've always enjoyed this place."
On his tyre strategy, Ricciardo is hoping it doesn't rain so he gets the best of the gamble.
"We'll see tomorrow if it works ... we just feel that it opens up a few more options for the race ... let's see, I think today we are sitting pretty, hopefully it turns out in our favour."
Ricciardo had a difficult two weeks after coming fourth in Barcelona when the Mercedes cars crashed out and he was given a three-stop strategy that gifted the Spanish Grand Prix to his teammate Max Verstappen on debut.
Verstappen had a day to forget in Monaco, crashing out after touching the wall. He will start from the rear of the grid.
Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton had engine difficulties exiting the pit lane the final qualifying and had to be pushed by mechanics back into the garage. When he finally emerged he could only manage a 1:13.942.
