Lewis Hamilton believes "pole was for the taking" in Monaco had it not been for the reliability troubles that struck his car during qualifying.
The Mercedes driver looked quick throughout the session, topping Q2 before heading out to set a lap in Q3 before running into trouble as he exited his garage, reporting a "loss of power", leaving him stranded at the end of the pitlane.
However the Briton managed to get out for one flying lap, but believes his session was compromised by the trouble, leaving Daniel Ricciardo to take pole with a sensational lap around the streets of Monte Carlo.
"It was a difficult qualifying, I don't really know what to say at the moment," Hamilton said. "The good thing is that I did get out to do a lap at least, it wasn't as bad as some races have been in that respect with the engine problems.
"I'm grateful to be up in third. I'll do what I can from there," he added.
"Pole was there for the taking I think, but nevertheless I'll do what I can in the race to salvage what I can from today's result."
Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg however doesn't believe pole was on the cards, insisting Ricciardo and Red Bull were too quick.
"I don't think it went away from me, it never was with me," he said. "Daniel was just quick today.
"They got a well-deserved pole and that's it. I just wasn't quick enough."
