Horner expresses Red Bull fear after shock Monaco qualifying

Christian Horner fears Red Bull will be stuck in a "high-speed traffic jam" as it only qualified sixth and 18th for the Monaco Grand Prix. 

Max Verstappen was hunting a ninth straight pole position to break the all-time record he jointly holds with Ayrton Senna, but a wall-strike at Sainte Devote on his final Q3 lap left the world champion marooned down in sixth. Team-mate Sergio Perez was dumped out in Q1, starting 18th. 

With overtaking always difficult around the Principality, Horner feels it could be a long afternoon for the team which has won the last three grands prix on the streets of Monte Carlo. 

"I think we're going to be in a high-speed traffic jam for certainly the first 25% of the race, I would imagine," Horner told Sky Sports F1. 

"It is going to be a frustrating race, and the cars are so big here, that overtaking isn't really on unless the car ahead makes a significant mistake.

"Our race pace on the long runs was pretty good, but whether we will get to demonstrate that, I am not sure with how the traffic plays out. 

"Congratulations to Charles [Leclerc on pole position], he has been very strong through the sessions, but we'll try and do our best to make as much progress as we can."

Red Bull suffered a torrid Friday in Monte Carlo, with Verstappen claiming he was left bouncing like a "kangaroo" and was left with a headache by the bouncing.

Although Saturday appeared better, the car was still firmly off the leading pace behind Ferrari and McLaren, with Verstappen also falling behind Mercedes' George Russell on the grid. 

"It's been a struggle all weekend to be honest with you, the car hasn't suited the characteristics of this circuit," Horner added.

"But up until that last run, anywhere between second and sixth was still on, but unfortunately we didn't get that last run in.

"It is something we need to understand. The first sector was pretty strong, but it's mainly the tight hairpin around Lowes and Turns 5 and 10 were our weak areas - but we will take the lessons out of today.

"We will come back fighting."