Daniel Ricciardo admits WILD Miami F1 drive nearly ended in disaster twice

Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB, Visa, RB, Miami, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

Miami Grand Prix

Ricciardo admits WILD Miami F1 drive nearly ended in disaster twice

The Aussie recorded his best qualifying result to date in Miami

Tyler Rowlinson

Saturday 4 May 2024 08:57

Daniel Ricciardo was left elated with his performance in the Sprint Qualifying on Friday in Miami.

The Aussie recorded his best qualifying of the year thus far by putting his RB fourth for the second Sprint race of the season, coming within four tenths of pole sitter Max Verstappen.

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Ricciardo has endured a difficult start to the season, with zero points from the opening five races and two DNFs, as he has been out-performed by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

But after putting his car on the second row of the grid for Saturday's Sprint, the 34-year-old is optimistic that things are beginning to look better.

Daniel Ricciardo will start P4 for the Miami Sprint

Ricciardo: I know it's in me

Speaking with Natalie Pinkham after the session on Sky Sports, Ricciardo said: "I know it's in me - but did I expect to do a second-row start? Probably not that good.

"I felt really good in SQ2 and I knew that lap would be good enough for SQ3. I think at that point I was P5 and in my head I was thinking 'P5 would be really nice for SQ3' and then we got P4.

"It was wild. The laps were good but it's hard to be really clean around here, it was a tricky track, and it's hard to. Both laps I kissed the wall, I was definitely pushing. I'm very proud of what I did today but also the team has been bringing upgrades the last few races.

"I had the chassis change in China and we had a new floor here, so it definitely looks like it's turning around.

"It's just so nice starting towards the front."

Red Bull Max Verstappen Daniel Ricciardo Yuki Tsunoda Miami Grand Prix