Ricciardo in P15: “Quite a bit off to where we think we should be”

Daniel Ricciardo’s early qualifying exit at the Dutch Grand Prix has left the Australian questioning “why we struggled so much” as he prepares to lineup from P15 tonight.

With the overnight mission of sorting out RB’s issues, the Faenza-based team arrived at FP3 ready to test out a revised set-up, however, a major Red Flag delay consumed the session and left Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda in the dark ahead of qualifying.

That uncertainty translated into a tangible qualifying result for Ricciardo, who struggled throughout the entire 18-minute Q1 session in the Netherlands. 

“We did find some stuff last night, it was definitely encouraging coming into today,” the #3 said.

“We basically found some things on the car that weren’t, let’s say, in the set-up particularly well, so that was all good for today.

“Obviously, this morning (FP3), hard to read but then, yeah, don’t really know where it kind of got away from us there. 

“I mean I do from a feeling, but yeah, it’s obviously windy and tricky for everyone so we just seemed to struggle a bit more that last lap and yeah, in the end, quite a bit off to where we think we should be.”

Now deflated, Ricciardo was once full of hope as he trundled out of the pitlane, but after one attempt, however, that had faded.

Instantly starting in the danger zone, Ricciardo’s opening lap left him on the fringes of elimination.

The Australian’s second attempt, a 1:12.343s, was a marginal improvement but as his competitors’ times rolled in, Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda were momentarily banished to the knockout list. 

Bolting one lap earlier than his competitors, Ricciardo’s final attempt still wasn’t quick enough. 

While Tsunoda improved to secure himself a place in Q2, Ricciardo was just 0.111s shy of fifteenth place meaning his qualifying campaign would come to an early close.

“I don’t feel good, for sure,” Ricciardo said, speaking after qualifying in P16.

“Q1, obviously it’s over so quick, you know, if you don’t get it right, that’s it.

“Yeah, it was tricky… it was tricky but, yeah, honestly, a little bit not quite sure at the moment why we struggled so much. 

“It’s over like that so if you don’t get it right then it’s done. 

“That’s it, not much to say.”

Ricciardo won’t start from P16, however, inheriting a position due to Alex Albon’s post-qualifying disqualification to line up from fifteenth on the grid behind Lewis Hamilton.

The RB driver will aim to follow Hamilton as the Mercedes driver parts the pack, his only hope of turning the weekend around on his quest to impress the Red Bull higher-ups.

Speaking after declaring Ricciardo’s qualifying performance “fell below our expectations”, RB Technical Director Jody Egginton said the team will need to be opportunistic during the 72-lap dash.

“Looking ahead to tomorrow, FP2 long run pace was reasonable,” he said.

“If we can get our cars moving forwards early towards the ones in front of us, we should be able to find ourselves at the front of the midfield and take any opportunities that present themselves.”

Lights out on a tense Dutch Grand Prix will take place at 11:00 PM. 

Image: Simon Galloway / LAT Images

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