Missing out on pole "blessing in disguise" for Russell - Ricciardo
Missing out on pole "blessing in disguise" for Russell - Ricciardo
Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo believes George Russell's agonising second place in Sakhir Grand Prix qualifying is a "blessing in disguise" for the Mercedes stand-in driver's career.
Russell was pipped to pole by just 0.026 seconds by new team-mate Valtteri Bottas after producing a stellar final sector to put himself in contention on the Bahrain Outer Track.
Ricciardo believes the British driver, who is deputising for Lewis Hamilton after the world champion contracted Covid-19, will benefit in the long term from not securing a maiden pole on his first outing with a top marque.
"In a way, it is probably a blessing in disguise that he didn't get pole," he said.
"I think if you blow everything on your first weekend then you have set the bar so high, what more can you do.
"Obviously, I am sure he is frustrated today but probably in the long term, it is a good thing for him with everybody expecting whatever from him. But you have got to do it, you have got to step up."
Ricciardo has likened Russell's opportunity this weekend to his own experience when he stepped up from Toro Rosso to Red Bull in 2014, explaining the task of driving a faster car is much more difficult than expected from the outside.
"When I went from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, it is probably like now with him going from Williams to Mercedes," added Ricciardo.
"There is more pressure to be at the front but the car is better so therefore it is actually easier to drive in a way. It does more what you want.
"I'm sure if you speak to George he will say...he probably won't say it because he doesn't want to be arrogant, but he will probably say it was quite easy out there.
"And I don't want to take the word easy lightly. I am sure with the grip he is fighting the car less than he has been with the Williams so stepping up is sometimes pleasantly surprising."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- 48 minutes ago
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 1 hour ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- 2 hours ago
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 3 hours ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
Ricciardo boss in 'super disappointing' claim amid RB stars' performance
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
Marko reveals Vettel requirements for stunning F1 comeback
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