Max Verstappen (Red Bull), fourth in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix: “We weren’t in the battle for pole”

Max Verstappen (fourth in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, Red Bull, at the microphone of Canal+): “We weren’t in the battle for pole, that’s for sure, with Charles (Leclerc). He was really too fast for us this weekend. Personally, I suffered a little more with the balance of the car. I couldn’t find the grip on the front of the car fast enough. It was a little better from Q1 to Q2 then Q3, I had a little more rhythm. I had chosen another strategy compared to the other drivers, I decided to do two fast laps. For me it worked because on the second lap I was faster and maybe I could have grabbed a second place. But there was a lot of traffic in front of me, that’s how it is. It’s the second time in two years that I take a red flag, it’s a bit of bad luck but it’s Monaco, it happens. Carlos Sainz (second, Ferrari): “There was a crash in front of me and I was on my fast lap. I saw the yellow flags at the last moment in turn 8. I tried to avoid Sergio (Perez) but I couldn’t. It’s a shame because it’s another year where the red flag jeopardizes my last lap when I could fight for pole. But this is Monaco. Yes, I think I could fight for pole position, we had a very good pace today (Saturday). You never know, I clearly felt good with the car. I will try to finish the job, we are in a position to score a very good result for the team, the car has been brilliant all weekend. »