Australia’s pair of Formula 1 stars copped a brutal reality check in qualifying for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, but they’re remaining optimistic after a razor-thin battle showed promising signs for the season ahead.
Oscar Piastri finished eighth in his McLaren, one spot behind teammate Lando Norris – but crucially, just .504s behind pole sitter and reigning champion Max Verstappen.
That’s less than half the gap between first and eighth from last season’s qualifying at the Bahrain GP, showing the one-lap pace of this year’s competitors has tightened significantly.
Verstappen led his Red Bull to pole, but had Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc managed to repeat his lap time from Q2 in the final stage of qualifying he would have beaten the Dutchman to pole.
Daniel Ricciardo meanwhile finished 14th, three places behind RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda who missed out on a place in Q3 by the narrowest of margins.
Ricciardo told Sky Sports: “I was disappointed in my position/performance.
“I didn’t drive shit or anything, but there was just some … I never really crossed the line being like yeah, I did a clear lap. There was always [a feeling of] I know I can make time at Turn 1, or Turn 4.
“There was always some parts on the track where I knew there was lap time, but I never really was able to put it together.
“Even if I improved a little bit, then I’d probably lose a bit in the next corner, so it kind of seesawed a bit. I was never progressively gaining.”
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While he was disappointed at being off the pace of his teammate, he said that the team’s results were a fair reflection of their current performance.
“I feel like there’s a bit more time on the table but taking Yuki in 11th … We felt like if we do like a great lap, Q3 is possible, but otherwise, we’re probably around a top 12 area.
“I think it’s where we are for now. We expected a little bit of a steady start to the year, so it’s not, I wouldn’t say we’re disappointed.
“I’m a bit disappointed in my session but I think as a whole, we’re not like worried or panicked.”
Ricciardo added to his team website: “I’m not too happy with my performance tonight and a bit disappointed, to be honest … As for our car and pace, as you see where Yuki is, that’s where we expected to be. Tonight was the least comfortable I felt so far this weekend, but going into the race, the approach to the track and car is different, and I’ve got more confidence going into tomorrow.
“I think there’s still a chance for points.”
Piastri, meanwhile told Sky Sports: “The first (lap in Q3) was shocking. The second one, not too bad. It’s been a tricky day … just struggled more and more.”
“The gap to the cars in front and a long way further up is very small. So for me that’s a big positive.
“I think, I’m sure Lando has said before me, Bahrain doesn’t suit us very well … but we’re there or thereabouts in the mix. It’s a nice way to start the year.”
“In practice yesterday, in the race runs, we looked good! … It’s so close between everyone really, especially the teams we’re fighting – Mercedes, Ferrari. Red Bull don’t look quite as quick as we feared, I feel. It’s really tight amongst all of us.”
Piastri told his team website: “P8. A significant improvement on last year [started 18th]. I did struggle with the balance all session and felt a fair way off compared to yesterday.
“It came together a bit more on the last lap in Q3, but it was a bit tricky. However, going into tomorrow, I think we can be in the mix. The grid is quite tight and there isn’t much in it, so it won’t be easy, but we’ll see what we can do.”
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