Max Verstappen’s record number of poles was brought to a halt by Charles Leclerc’s blistering lap on his home streets of Monaco.

After equalling Ayrton Senna’s haul of eight poles in Imola last weekend, the world champion qualified a distant sixth and now has it all to do on the principality’s tight and unforgiving circuit. He even clipped his Red Bull on the barriers at Saint Devote, the opening corner, and complained of a ‘slippery’ car.

‘We knew we would struggle here,’ said Verstappen, who is still 60 points clear of Ferrari’s Leclerc. ‘I thought I did OK given that. It’s like driving a go-kart. There’s no suspension and kept nearly putting it in the wall.

‘The circuit doesn’t suit us, but one race doesn’t make a season.’

Red Bull’s underperformance was underlined by Sergio Perez, the so-called ‘King of the Streets’, being eliminated in Q1. The Mexican will start 18th.

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Charles Leclerc will start on pole at the Monaco Grand Prix to secure Ferrari’s 250th ever pole

Ferrari starred in the qualification sessions as they produced the fastest car of the day

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McLaren enjoyed a strong day as Oscar Piastri  finished second and Lando Norris fourth