Max Verstappen just beat off Fernando Alonso, driving like a god, to claim his first pole position in Monaco. He was two-tenths back going into the last sector, yet still produced like a magician in the closing bends in defiance of danger. Hamilton was scrambling throughout and only just squeezed his way out of both Q1 and Q2. Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez condemned himself to start at the back of the field when he crashed at the opening corner, Sainte Devote in the opening minutes of qualifying. The Mexican, who is Verstappen’s closest challenger in the standings, 14 points back, carried too much speed into the bend and thudded the left-rear of his car into the hoardings.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•