MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 23: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB during qualifying ahead of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit on March 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202403230199 // For editorial use only //
The fastest lap of Q1 by the Western Australian was invalidated by the FIA F1 Stewards due to track limits violation at Turn 5. As a result, he will start in 18th position among 19 cars on the grid for Sunday’s race. The lap, which was set too late in the session to try another, would have secured his spot in Q2.
This was another heartbreaking moment for Ricciardo at his home Grand Prix, recalling his disqualification 10 years ago for a fuel infringement when he finished second for Red Bull behind Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.
I was definitely pushing to keep the car on track while trying to find the extra time we’ve been struggling to find all weekend,” said Ricciardo, who stood in as a frustrated reserve driver for Red Bull at Albert Park last year.
“And I felt that lap was the best I could do. So it was just adding insult to injury,” added Ricciardo, who has been outperformed in all three races this season by his less experienced teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.
The winner of the ongoing battle between the two drivers could potentially secure a coveted race seat at Red Bull in 2025, as Sergio Perez’s contract expires next year.
On the other VCARB, Tsunoda, who qualified in 8th place on Saturday behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, currently has the upper hand in this teammate rivalry.
After the qualifying session, the Japanese driver expressed his satisfaction both with his own performance and that of the team. He credited the team for providing a car with consistent performance throughout the weekend, allowing him to build confidence in each session.
“I definitely feel like I did a clean lap, extracting the maximum performance from each corner and maximizing overall performance. I didn’t expect to qualify in 8th place, especially after seeing other teams like Williams improve their times in Q1,” Tsunoda said.
“I am very pleased; it is my best qualifying position this season and reflects the hard work of the team. Daniel also showed good pace, so it’s unfortunate what happened to him. But let’s see how it goes tomorrow. It won’t be easy, but our goal is to have a clean race, do our best, and score points!” Tsunoda declared.
With Ricciardo consistently underperforming, Australian fans are now pinning their hopes on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who replaced his struggling compatriot at McLaren, to end the long wait for an Australian driver on the podium in Melbourne.
Piastri qualified in 6th place, two positions behind his teammate Lando Norris, but expressed disappointment with a “confusing” and error-prone Q3. The Melbourne local hero expressed hope that the soft tire setup at Albert Park could give them the opportunity to outperform their rivals with a strong strategy, although he acknowledges the challenge of overtaking the Red Bulls and Ferraris ahead of them on the grid.
“Mixed feelings. I feel like there may have been a bit more potential today, which is a bit disappointing,” Piastri summed up his qualifying performance. (Reporting by Ian Ransom; Additional quotes by Agnes Carlier)
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The Brazilian Formula 1 driver, Lucas Silva, achieved an impressive victory at the Monza Grand Prix this Sunday. The race was full of excitement and twists, but Silva showed his skill and determination by overtaking his opponents and crossing the finish line in first place.
Silva, who currently competes for the Mercedes team, started the race in third position, but quickly gained ground and took the lead. He maintained a steady pace and resisted the pressure from other drivers, holding onto his position at the front.
Silva’s victory is especially significant as it marks his first triumph in Formula 1. The Brazilian driver has been a constant presence on the podium throughout the season, but he finally managed to reach the top step.
After the race, Silva expressed his gratitude to the Mercedes team and all his fans for their continuous support. He also praised his competitors for their performance and promised to keep working hard to achieve more success in the future.
With this victory, Silva strengthens his position in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship and gets closer to the leader. With several races ahead, anything is possible, and fans are eager to see what the Brazilian driver can achieve.
The next race will take place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Silva is confident that he can continue his streak of good results and hopes to earn more important points for the Mercedes team.
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