Pole-sitter Verstappen took risks in Q3: 'Kissed some more walls'

Max Verstappen had a mediocre first run in Q3 and thus had to chase his rivals. On his very last lap, he was still two-tenths behind Fernando Alonso, but he completely made up the difference with an insane number of final corners. The Dutchman is extremely happy with his first pole position in Monaco.

"I am very happy," Verstappen interjected in an initial reaction. Before the weekend, the 25-year-old driver knew it would be difficult to set the fastest time in the qualifying session. "We knew it would be a bit tricky for us to put all the puzzle pieces together. It wasn't the best start [with a difficult VT1], but we got better and better."

About his Saturday, he says: "In qualifying, we had to push fully and take all the risks. The first sector on my last lap was not ideal, maybe a bit cautious in the first corner. I knew I was behind and in that last sector, I gave everything and kissed some more walls. I am very happy to be in pole position here for the first time."

Verstappen on the race

Verstappen needs to cash in on his first starting spot on Sunday. How to do that? "We need a good start. It's a short run towards the first corner," said the World Cup leader, who is wary of a chaotic afternoon. "A lot can happen, rain, safety car. It's always chaos. In terms of race pace, at least it looks good."