Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has returned to form and the pointy end of the grid with a super impressive drive in the Miami Grand Prix.
For the first time this season, Ricciardo and his much-improved VCARB car, made it to the final qualifying session, qualifying the fourth fastest for Saturday’s 19-lap sprint race at the Hard Rock Cafe.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Ricciardo stuns at the Miami Grand Prix.
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A struggling Max Verstappen still put his Red Bull in pole position, while Charles Leclerc qualified second for Ferrari and Sergio Perez was third.
But it was Ricciardo’s fourth that was the big surprise and the big talking point.
“What a performance from Daniel Ricciardo, finally he’s showing us what he’s capable of,” F1 commentator Martin Brundle said.
Fans were also thrilled for Ricciardo, however, some noted this was one good performance among several ordinary ones.
“I know never doubted him!!,” one fan blasted on X (formerly Twitter).
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Another said: “But everyone said he was finished… Absolutely brilliant performance. So pleased for him. 👊🏼 💪🏼”
And another: “One of the most underrated drivers ever.”
But others were more measured.
“We’re gonna need more than one decent performance a year before we’re back on the Danny Ric train. Love the guy, but put him a hypercar already,” one fan cautioned..
Riccardo said after the drive: “I’ve been able to do it before, so I know it’s in me. Did I expect to do a second row start? Probably not that good … It was wild.
“I’m very proud of what I did today … things are definitely turning around.
“It’s just so nice starting towards the front.”
It was a different story for Lewis Hamilton as his troubled F1 season continued.
Hamilton, who has so far failed to finish in the top six this season, grazed the wall as he was eliminated in Q2, and he qualified only 12th.
Hamilton’s teammate George Russell also failed to make it into the final phase, taking 11th place, on another disappointing afternoon for Mercedes in the Sunshine State.
“I have got nothing,” said Hamilton over the radio following his premature exit from qualifying which determines the grid for Saturday’s 19-lap dash.
The dejected seven-time world champion then shook his head as he departed his Mercedes.
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The Silver Arrows have brought a revised machine to Florida, fast-tracking an upgraded floor originally due for the next round in Imola in a fortnight’s time.
But the new package failed to reverse the fortunes of a team labouring in fourth place in the constructors’ standings.
Team principal Toto Wolff put his forehead in his hands after seeing both drivers fail to make it out of Q2.
Meanwhile, Verstappen is on course to waltz to his fourth world championship in as many years and the Dutchman put the team’s off-track troubles to one side — after designer Adrian Newey announced he is leaving Red Bull at the end of the year — to take spot.
However, Verstappen, who appeared to be struggling with the handling of his all-conquering Red Bull machine, was surprised he had managed to see off his rivals.
“Lol,” he said over the radio after edging out Leclerc by 0.108 seconds. “What happened to the others? This was terrible but I will take it.”
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz qualified fifth, with rising Australian star Oscar Piastri sixth for McLaren. Lando Norris could manage only ninth after he finished eight tenths off the pace.
– With AAP