Sainz: I pushed a bit too much, it cost me

Sainz was the only driver flying the Ferrari flag after Q1, as Charles Leclerc ran briefly having taken a new power unit mandating an end-of-the-grid race start for the Monegasque.

However Sainz made a mistake on his final lap, as the track dried out, and while he was far off from beating Max Verstappen, but he could at least have take second away from two-time Formula 1 Champion and compatriot, Fernando Alonso.

"Today we had good pace and overall it was a good qualifying given the tricky conditions," Sainz said in Ferrari's post qualifying report.

"On the very last sector I felt it was a bit of an “all or nothing” situation and I pushed a bit too much at the last chicane," he revealed.

"Unfortunately, it cost me the front row, but I’m not too disappointed, as it was a great battle to the very last moment, I had to go for it, and P3 for tomorrow is not a bad starting position on this track.

"The pace has been there all weekend and tomorrow we’ll give it everything we’ve got. It should be an interesting race and I’m really looking forward to it," Sainz added.

Speaking to the media after qualifying, Sainz explained: "Today, I was feeling quite okay with the car in the full wet. As the track was drying I felt the others did a step.

"Just trying to go for it," he insisted. "But for the rest, I think we're in a good position for tomorrow. Let's see what we can do with Fernando as he's been very quick all weekend.

"I feel ok," the Spaniard went on. "I would like to be in the front row all weekend. As the track started to dry up the track was changing. I needed a very good lap . Sector 1 was quite ok. Sector 2 I did not have the grip I expected to find. I thought it was not the right call."

The Ferrari driver claimed he will be pushing the drivers ahead of him in Sunday's race, saying: "It does not matter the position in qualifying.

"You must put pressure on the guys in front. Anything can happen. Tomorrow with a good start and a good strategy we can get a good result," he believed.

As for his Sunday plan, Sainz said: "After a good start, try to follow and put some pressure and not be too far behind.

"We will have a space to fight Max. It will be close. We can still be there," he insisted.

Ferrari's Racing Director Laurent Mekies reflected: "It was a complex qualifying, because the track conditions were evolving all the time and, as from Q2, we were down to one car which meant we had less information to work from.

"Carlos drove well and, as a team, I think we made the right choices in terms of strategy and tyres. It was a shame he missed out on second place by a tenth, but track conditions were really tricky and it was difficult to put together a perfect lap.

"Well done to Max (Verstappen) who was simply quickest today," Mekies concluded.

(Additional reporting by Agnes Carlier)