Verstappen sees Leclerc crash: "Unfortunate with the red flag"

Max Verstappen certainly had a chance at pole position in Monaco, but Charles Leclerc denied the Dutchman that opportunity. Verstappen recorded a purple first sector, but then he had to abort his closing run due to the red flag when Leclerc parked his Ferrari in the wall. The Red Bull Racing driver is at least satisfied with his second place.

"It was unfortunate with the red flag," Verstappen told Paul di Resta immediately afterwards. "I felt really comfortable in qualifying just building up to it and no one was really putting a lap time in on the first lap and we basically planned it out. To basically do two laps and the third lap to be the fastest. It was all going really well but of course, the red flag ruined it."

Red flag not factored into the strategy

Verstappen started Q3 with a slightly different strategy than the other drivers. The plan was to set the fastest lap in the third run, but a red flag was not taken into account. "I mean of course it's easy to have a red flag, but you don't expect it."

It is possible the 23-year-old Dutchman could still start from pole position Sunday if the damage to Leclerc's car proves too extensive. The gearbox may have to be changed and that would mean a grid penalty of five places.