Horner: 'Max smart enough to learn from brutal lesson'

40

Christian Horner admitted it was a bittersweet afternoon for Red Bull after Daniel Ricciardo clinched pole while Max Verstappen was forced to sit out the all-important qualifying session.

A big mistake by the Dutchman in the morning's free practice resulted in a heavy contact with the barriers and a scramble by his crew to ready his damaged RB14 for qualifying.

Alas, as the final preparations were taking place, an ominous sign was identified when the car was fired up.

"Basically the car was fired up, but then we saw an oil leak in the gearbox, and that was it," explained Horner.

"They did their best to try and get the gearbox replaced, which would have been a five-place penalty.

Brilliant Ricciardo claims Monaco pole with unbeatable record pace

"I have to say, both car crews - Daniel's crew as well steaming in - doing everything they could to make it happen but today unfortunately it wasn't to be," lamented the Red Bull team boss.

It was a heavy blow for the Milton Keynes-based squad which has been performing comfortably above its rivals in Monaco, and one that leaves Verstappen with the massive challenge of starting Sunday's race from the back of the grid.

Horner is confident however that the 20-year-old will take away a valuable lesson from his blunder and the lost opportunity.

"This place bites and he got bitten pretty hard today in a session that doesn’t really count for anything, other than setting the car up," said Horner.

"He’s in a car that’s capable of winning this Grand Prix and that will hurt him even more because you don’t get that many opportunities to win a Monaco Grand Prix.

"He knows that more than anybody and I would imagine that was a pretty painful qualifying for him watching what could have been.

"There's no more brutal lesson that what he's just had. I'm sure that he's smart enough to hopefully learn from that."

At the end of the day however, it was all about mixed feelings in the Red Bull camp.

"It feels a little bittersweet. Really delighted with the pole but we should have had two cars up there," admitted Horner.

"It's frustrating with such a fast car bot to have both cars on the front row of the grid."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.