Ricciardo upset by Singapore Q1 setback
SINGAPORE -- Daniel Ricciardo missed a golden opportunity to make a bold statement during the qualifying session for the Singapore Grand Prix, heightening the speculation surrounding his Formula 1 future.
Despite a strong showing in Friday practice, Ricciardo faltered in Q1, resulting in a 16th place start on Sunday's grid. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, fared better, making it to Q3 and securing an eighth-place start.
Ricciardo's uncertain status with the team has been a topic of much discussion, with Liam Lawson speculated to replace him next year. Some reports even suggest that this change could occur immediately after the Singapore race.
When queried about his lack of pace in qualifying, Ricciardo could offer no clear explanation.
"I try to be optimistic, but today was a very pessimistic day, so I might go drown in my ice bath," he quipped humorously on Saturday evening.
The frustration was palpable when Ricciardo was asked whether his Q1 exit was more exasperating given his current situation.
"Yeah, of course. Like, it would be nice just to [make] a statement, but, yeah, obviously the Q1 thing sucks," Ricciardo said candidly. "So I don't know ... with all the s--- going on, I honestly felt like it would be good today, so that's why I'm more just like, how did we end up in Q1? So, yeah, I don't know."
He added: "Q1 sucks, especially when you don't expect to be there. Obviously, some races we've expected to be here, but after yesterday, didn't think this would even be possible with a s--- lap."
Ricciardo's irritation with the prevailing uncertainties within the team was evident during his media pen interview. On Friday, Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko addressed an off-the-cuff remark Ricciardo made about the unpredictable nature of F1. Ricciardo had implied that a podium finish could dramatically alter his standing, suggesting that his future could hinge on such a result.
Marko appeared to endorse this viewpoint, stating, "He said that if he finishes on the podium, the situation will look completely different. I totally agree with him," to Austrian broadcaster ORF.
Ricciardo's body language shifted noticeably when Marko's comments were brought up during his media pen session. He turned to one side, contemplated his response, and then cautiously chose his words.
"You can't just go from one race to another. Like, that's not OK," Ricciardo said. "But I did think today was going to be OK. Yeah, no, that's... yeah, I'll say no more."
Singapore is notoriously challenging for overtaking, casting a shadow over Ricciardo's prospects starting from 16th on the grid.
In a lighter moment, Ricciardo referenced the venue's most infamous incident, known as Crashgate, where Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed to benefit then-teammate Fernando Alonso with a safety car, leading to a race win.
When asked what he needed to score points on Sunday, Ricciardo laughed and replied, "Hopefully a well-timed safety car. Bring Piquet back and let's make it happen!"
The eight-time race winner faces an uphill battle at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, where strategy and timing will be crucial in his quest to salvage a positive result from a challenging start position.
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