P12 “was pretty much all I had,” Ricciardo says

Set to start the Italian Grand Prix from twelfth on the grid, Daniel Ricciardo says he “felt like that was pretty much all I had” after out-qualifying his teammate’s upgraded VCARB 01 in Monza.

Exiting the pitlane in a relaxed manner, a subpar Q1 display put Ricciardo under pressure from the get-go. 

Having recorded a time of 1:21.059s, the Australian sat as the driver at risk in P15 with rookie Franco Colapinto breathing down his neck just two milliseconds behind.

As the session came to a close, the #3 improved on his time, but not his position, making for an anxious wait as he advanced in P15.

The same couldn’t be said for his furious teammate, with Yuki Tsunoda’s time of 1:20.901s knocking the upgraded VCARB 01 out of qualifying.

Following his Q1 exit, Tsunoda described the car as “weak” after being told to “keep it clean on the radio”.

Ricciardo echoed the Japanese driver’s sentiments, admitting that the car proved challenging across the session.

“It’s been tricky,” Ricciardo said.

“We were pretty much… you know, there was what, half a tenth in it or something in Q1, so… I wouldn’t say I was saying it’s the best… the best I’ve ever driven, but… he had the updates this weekend, I haven’t.

“We have obviously reason to believe it’s better, but I haven’t driven it, so I can’t obviously say, is it better or not, but it’s been tricky, but I think it’s a combination of low downforce, new asphalt, it’s quite peaky. 

“So, just trying to find the grip and put the lap together isn’t easy. 

“And yeah, probably that’s why I felt happier with my Q2 lap. 

“I felt like there was no big snaps or mistakes and therefore I was like, okay, I think that’s all it had.”

Continuing his qualifying run into Q2, an optimistic place in Q3 was the only thing on Ricciardo’s mind as he headed out onto the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Wringing out his RB, a 1:21.273s lap was all that his scrubbed tyres could initially manage, placing him at the back of the pack and four-tenths behind his closest rival.

From there, Ricciardo retreated to the pitlane, only exiting for his final Q2 attempt with three minutes on the clock.

As he emerged, the Australian set three personal best sectors, however, it was only quick enough for a temporary P11, 19 milliseconds beyond the safety zone.

Fernando Alonso ultimately out-paced Ricciardo’s 1:20.479s, leaving the Australian to take the start of the Italian Grand Prix from twelfth on the grid.

“I think yes, under the circumstances [I’m pleased with that],” Ricciardo said.

“Obviously from a result, I would have loved to have finished up in Q3, but the reality is sometimes… you have to do what you can and the result is kinda… what am I trying to say? 

“In a way, the result shouldn’t dictate how you feel. 

“So, I think therefore, yeah, I felt like I’d put it all into that last lap. 

“There wasn’t really anywhere in particular where I was like, oh, there was a tenth there or there. 

“You know, maybe there’s always little bits, but I felt like that was pretty much all I had.”

Not ruling out a points finish if a bit of luck were to play into RB’s hands tonight, Ricciardo’s mid-pack starting slot adds a sense of positional security to a race with a 50% chance of a Safety Car.

“I think there is a lot of unknowns and there was, you know, FP3, we were kind of a bit on the fence,” he said.

“No one’s really run the hard yet, so is it an easy one-stop? Is it not? I didn’t feel, or I’m still not probably convinced. 

“So anyway, if it is a two-stop, if there are Safety Cars or whatever, I feel a bit happier now, a bit more protected. 

“I’m in the same boat as everyone else but Yuki did run the Hard, so at least we’re not in no-man’s land if there’s a Safety Car on Lap 40.”

Lights out at the Italian Grand Prix will take place at 11:00 PM tonight.

Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

2024 Italian Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday, August 30th:

FP1: 21:30 – 22:30

Saturday, August 31st:

FP2: 01:00 – 02:00

FP3: 20:30 – 21:30

Sunday, September 1st:

Qualifying: 00:00 – 01:00

Race: 23:00

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