Verstappen admits fault for Monaco crash

Max Verstappen shouldered the blame for his crash in FP3 which wiped out his qualifying to leave Red Bull with a car at the front of the grid and the back in Monaco. Daniel Ricciardo converted the potential in the Red Bull to pole position, but Verstappen was left to count the cost of another error.

Verstappen has now either spun, crashed or made contact with another car at all six races this season.

This one looks like being the most costly, with Red Bull previously on course for a big haul of points - Ricciardo ended every practice and qualifying session top of the timesheets.

However, Verstappen will have to hope for some of Monaco's trademark madness, and likely several safety cars, if he is to battle for the major positions.

Verstappen was perhaps put off by the slow-moving Renault of Carlos Sainz Jr in Saturday's practice, but took too much kerb and broke a right-front steering rod on the barriers at the swimming pool chicane before skirting into the wall on the run down to La Rascasse.

But the Dutchman was not seeking any excuses after Saturday's running.

"No excuse. This was my fault," he said. "Tomorrow? I've no idea. We have pace, but if you get held up...

???? *That* FP3 crash @Max33Verstappen fans look away now ????#MonacoGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/2d2oUGmCPS — Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2018

"I clipped the inside barrier. I got a little bit caught off guard with the slow car, but that’s not an excuse, and I hit the wall.

"It’s all happening that quick at that stage when you get a little bit distracted, I guess I just turned in a little bit earlier than normal - or clearly turned in earlier…"

Despite a litany of issues this year, Verstappen disagreed with the extent of outright errors he has made.

"I wouldn't call Barcelona an incident. I think this, together with China, was my mistake," Verstappen said.

"It's of course not what you'd like to happen, but unfortunately it happens.

"The team will always be behind me, in good and bad times. It goes either way. Last year, with a lot of engine problems and stuff, I was exactly the same.

"We work as a team. You win and lose together."