Daniel Ricciardo produces stunning lap record to take pole in Monaco GP

Daniel Ricciardo took pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton was third quickest, a place behind Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

But Max Verstappen blew his hopes of winning in Monte Carlo by putting his car into the barriers before qualifying even started.

Instead of the Dutchman contesting pole, it was left to his Red Bull team-mate Ricciardo to claim that honour with the fastest lap ever seen here. The 28-year-old Australian will therefore start favourite to win the world’s most famous motor race. 

The Australian driver dominated all sectors before being pushed by Sebastian Vettel late on

While Ricciardo was in celebratory mood, it was a much more blank expression from Hamilton

Ricciardo matched his pole in Monte Carlo in 2016 but he failed to win the race that year

Hamilton missed out by four-tenths of a second, making it tough for him to win on this tight track with few overtaking opportunities.

Where Ricciardo was clean, clinical, devastatingly fast all weekend, as he hit the top of the timesheets not only in qualifying but in all three practice sessions, Verstappen once again revealed the flaws that place a question mark against his remarkable natural talent.

This street circuit carved beneath the escarpment of this gilded principality is no safe place for clumsy drivers. And Verstappen’s accident at the swimming pool section on a sunny afternoon was the fifth time in four years that he has run into trouble here. 

There was less to celebrate for Ricciardo’s team-mate as he failed to make it out for qualifying

A crash in free practice led to a major rebuild before he eventually needed a gearbox change

Verstappen, 20, will start at the back after his crew failed to get his machine repaired in time for qualifying. He landed consoling pats on the team’s back as time ran out. Those poor overworked chaps looked less than ‘gruntled’ as the car-wrecker left the garage.

Will he ever learn?

Has he intelligence to do so?

But putting that aside, Ricciardo’s pole – in 1min 10.810sec for the 2.074-mile course – leaves him well-placed to make amends for his near miss here two years ago, when a botched pit stop cost him certain victory.

Behind him were the Mercedes and Ferraris (with Kimi Raikkonen fourth quickest). The Italians’ cars are subject to an FIA investigation over the legality of their cars, and in particular their battery system.

Hamilton was uncomfortable on his tyres and has his work cut out to improve on his 17-point advantage over Vettel.