Hadjar hails 'mighty job' from Racing Bulls as he admits 'I wasn't even sure I could make it to Q2' in Monaco Qualifying

Isack Hadjar believes that he and the Racing Bulls team "did a mighty job" to qualify sixth for the Monaco Grand Prix and admitted "I wasn't even sure I could make it to Q2".

The Frenchman was one of the stars of an enthralling Qualifying session on the streets of Monte Carlo as he took the best starting position of his maiden Formula 1 campaign, just over two tenths behind reigning World Champion Max Verstappen directly ahead.

READ MORE: Norris beats Leclerc and Piastri to pole with last-gasp lap in Monaco GP Qualifying thriller

What's more a post-session three-place grid drop for Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, handed out for an impeding incident with Max Verstappen, elevates the Racing Bulls rookie to a P5 starting slot in Sunday's race.

Arriving into Qualifying, Hadjar had experienced a rollercoaster weekened after suffering two collisions with the barrier in FP2, and he lacked pace on Saturday morning, finishing FP3 in only 17th. He admitted that all of that put him on the backfoot going into the crucial Monaco Qualifying session.

"We did a mighty job I think [in Qualifying]," he said. "We had really tough free practice sessions, especially this morning.

"Yesterday was still competitive but this morning really I had no confidence and real struggles, so going into Q1 I wasn't even sure I could make it to Q2. So to finish P6 is just outstanding."

READ MORE: Hamilton hit with three-place Monaco GP grid drop for blocking Verstappen in Qualifying

It was also a strong Qualifying session for Hadjar's Racing Bulls team mate, with the second car of Liam Lawson also reaching Q3 and finishing the session ninth.

The Kiwi believes more was also possible had it not been for a scruffy final lap as he seeks to score his first points of the season in Sunday's race.

"Coming into the weekend I think I would have been happy with Q3 but the car's been pretty quick, especially FP2 and FP3 we were very strong and to be honest I think we missed a little bit in Quali," he said.

"That's a bit of a shame, we got traffic as well but this place is always full of that. Feels like we missed out a little bit but a strong Quali for the team."

READ MORE: Hamilton hit with three-place Monaco GP grid drop for blocking Verstappen in Qualifying

With a mandatory two-stop race offering more strategic options, Lawson is hopeful it will open the door for opportunities in the 78-lap race.

He added: "The most important part I would say of the weekend is done and we're in a decent position and the car is fast, we just need to optimise it tomorrow."