F1: Verstappen surprised by FP1 pace

Max Verstappen struggled to believe he was second fastest in his first Formula 1 session in Monaco, but he now thinks a top-five start for the grand prix is achievable.

The Toro Rosso rookie is the only driver in the 2015 F1 field who has never raced in Monte Carlo in any category. In the opening practice session on Thursday morning he was second only to world champion Lewis Hamilton, getting within a tenth of a second of the Mercedes.

"I was surprised, after the flag I was looking at the screen and I couldn't find myself, and then I went a bit up and I was like, 'All right, it was a good lap then,'" said Verstappen.

Although he had not previously driven the Monaco track, Verstappen said he completed "between 200 and 300" laps of the circuit in the simulator in preparation.

"From the simulator to here was very helpful," he said. "It felt very good on track straight away, I could get a lot of confidence in myself."

Verstappen was seventh in the rain-affected second practice session, but he was sure he could have been close to the front again. He therefore believes getting in the top five this weekend is realistic.

"In last practice, I should have been close to the top," Verstappen said. "I got held up in the last sector quite aggressively. If we can get the right lap in qualifying I think [the top five] is possible."

Asked whether he might even manage a maiden podium, Verstappen replied: "Maybe on this track if we have a lot of luck and people are having problems and crashing out and we stay on track, maybe there is a chance.

"Normally Mercedes and Ferrari should be ahead. If we have a lot of luck, maybe."

Originally on Autosport.com