Horner: Mercedes are gone in this race

The world champions unleashed their updated Spec-2 engines at Le Castellet and their drivers put them to good use, with Lewis Hamilton claiming pole position by a tenth of a second over teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Their closest rival, Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari, was three tenths shy of Hamilton's top time while the best Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, was six tenths off the pace in fourth and Daniel Riccardo a couple of tenths adrift of his teammate.

Afterwards, Horner told reporters, "Mercedes are gone in this race, as long as they don't screw it up they are in a very decent shape, but we are in good shape for a race with Ferrari. It is going to be difficult to pass here so it will have to be done on strategy."

"Qualifying the cars in fourth and fifth probably delivered the best we could have expected here. With Max on the second row and Daniel just behind, and starting on the supersoft tyre as opposed to Sebastian on ultrasofts ahead."

"It will be interesting to see how the race develops and if we can disrupt the order. Weather may also play a part, and with that anything can happen," added Horner.