Rejuvenated Verstappen happy with Monaco front row

Max Verstappen has spent much of the season grumbling about Formula One's hybrid engine and even threatening to quit the sport, ​but the smile was back on the Dutchman's face as ‌he put his Red Bull on the front row of the Monaco grid on Saturday.

The four-time world champion has managed only one podium in the opening five races of the ​season, but a sensational qualifying performance means he will start alongside ​pole setter Kimi Antonelli.

Verstappen held provisional pole before Italian teenager ⁠Antonelli grabbed it off him by 0.043 seconds with his final flying lap. ​Against all expectations he has now given himself a shot at a third ​Monaco triumph.

"If you would've told me yesterday I would be on the front row, I definitely would've taken it," he told reporters.

Verstappen was a distant fifth fastest in Saturday's ​final practice, almost a second down on Antonelli, then things clicked in qualifying. ​He was second in Q1 and fastest in Q2 before a thrilling battle for pole ‌in ⁠Q3.

"This morning, I think we had some difficulties with the car, so heading into qualifying and being up there I think was extremely positive," he said. "Overall, of course, I'm very happy with how qualifying went, how all the ​laps went, even though ​I had to ⁠deal with all the traffic and the walls."

The unique nature of Monaco's twisty street circuit also helped him have ​some fun in a car that has often made him ​grimace this ⁠season.

"They are more on edge than the last few years, and also with the power that kicks in, driveability and shifts are all a bit different," ⁠he said.

"Once ​you get on top of it and ​get a clean lap out of it, especially in qualifying you're flat-out and on the limit, it's ​very rewarding when it goes well."