Leclerc had to take risks because of P15 qualifying

Charles Leclerc has admitted the risks he took early in the Monaco Grand Prix were a "disaster" but maintained he was massively hindered by his qualifying position.

 The Monegasque was under a lot of pressure going into the weekend as the home driver but after a strategic error in qualifying, he was forced to exit in Q3. Despite qualifying in P16, Leclerc benefitted from Antonio Giovinazzi's penalty. 

After overtaking Romain Grosjean at Rascasse on lap eight, he tried the same move on Nico Hulkenberg a lap later only to collide with the wall and ruin the floor of his car as he returned to the pits. He eventually retired after another pit stop and he was left to rue the qualifying error.

"It was difficult and it was as I said before the race, I had to take a lot of risks but unfortunately it ended in disaster but that's Monaco when you start 15th which isn't our real pace position," said the Monegasque.