Ricciardo finally "hooked up" at Sochi after lengthy "homework" assignment
Ricciardo finally "hooked up" at Sochi after lengthy "homework" assignment
Daniel Ricciardo believes "quite a bit of homework" has put him in good stead for arguably his best Russian Grand Prix weekend.
Ricciardo's record at the Sochi Autodrom over the past six years has been relatively poor as his best qualifying performance has been fifth, while he has never finished higher than sixth.
But the Renault driver finished third quickest behind Mercedes duo Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, which has left his rivals at McLaren and Racing Point concerned given the battle between the three teams for third in the constructors' championship.
The Australian feels his performance was due to the work he put in after his display last season when he could only qualify 10th, which led to a mid-pack first-lap crash and retirement with collision damage later in the race.
"Probably the first time I've ever been hooked up around here," said Ricciardo. "It felt good, the first run I was on it and I stayed on it for the rest of the day, so I'm really happy with another good Friday.
"The car was good out of the box. We didn't make too many changes. I did quite a bit of homework from last year.
"I was a bit off the pace, trying to understand what we could do, and with myself, and then changing the car a little bit more to suit what I felt I missed last year, I think we are in a good place."
Ricciardo, though, believes it is too early to suggest his form so far will lead to a long-overdue podium, particularly with nine drivers behind him within seven-tenths of a second.
"It's early days. If I can put it there in quali then for sure I'll be confident of that," added Ricciardo on his podium chances.
"I think you know there are a lot of cars within two to three-tenths of us, so I'm sure that will be the battle tomorrow. I think it's all going to close up. If we can stay that tenth ahead then we will look all right."
Before you go...
Sainz apologies to McLaren for causing "unnecessary stress"
Hamilton believes F1 rivals will feel wounded by gap to Mercedes
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey Red Bull EXIT date revealed as F1 star confirmed at new team - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark
- Yesterday 22:57
Marko defends Ricciardo in 'unbelievable' idiot claim
- Yesterday 21:57
Hamilton hints at sensational Newey arrival at Ferrari
- Yesterday 20:57
Suspended Red Bull employee 'grilled' as Horner saga given potential END DATE
- Yesterday 19:57
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
- Yesterday 18:58
Related news
Ricciardo boss in 'super disappointing' claim amid RB stars' performance
Horner delivers threat to Ricciardo over Red Bull pressure
Marko suggests 'exciting' move to REPLACE Ricciardo
Ricciardo SNUBS team-mate in 'pressure' claim
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860