Goal achieved for Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo!
The RB12 was the curiosity of this qualifying session: could it topple the Mercedes? The answer was affirmative: Daniel Ricciardo made it to the Q3 gong ahead of Lewis Hamilton... but behind poleman Nico Rosberg. Max Verstappen left the session disappointed, despite finishing fourth.
Last-minute lifesaving adjustments for Daniel Ricciardo!
Q3: 2nd -> 1:43.115 (12 Laps)
A qualifying session and reversed dynamics for the two Red Bull drivers. While Daniel Ricciardo had always been behind Max Verstappen in the free practice standings, the wind shifted in Qualifying. It was indeed the Australian who emerged in the Q3 lap to snatch Hamilton’s Mercedes. But did he hope for even better?
« I am quite happy: the goal was to reach the front row and get ahead of a Mercedes, so it’s great to have managed one! It would have been even better to get the pole, but Nico’s lap was rather brilliant! My last lap in Q3 was quite clear, which allowed me to get into the front row. I am delighted with this session as a whole. »
With this second place, the native of Perth returns to the front row, having not achieved such a performance since the European Grand Prix in Baku, held on June 19. However, the journey this weekend to get there was apparently quite tricky, especially in terms of settings:
« Throughout the practice sessions, I wasn’t really on the limit with my car. The last-minute changes before Qualifying helped me. We made progress between the Practice Sessions and Qualifying, the pace in that session was good. »
Now, the prospect seems almost even more beautiful in view of the race. The consistent times of the Tag Heuer-powered car almost lead to hopes of the unutterable…
« Obviously, we think that fitting the super-soft tires in Q2 is a good thing! I think we can put pressure on the Mercedes tomorrow in the race.»
Thus, Daniel Ricciardo will at least attempt to secure his fifth podium of the season. But there’s no doubt that the Australian will have a strong sense of revenge considering the victory lost in Monaco due to an error by his mechanics during a tire change…
Bump me homie 👊
P2 and P4 = Game on for the #SingaporeGP! pic.twitter.com/Wm1vIAbIDq— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) 17 septembre 2016
Max Verstappen pouts
Q3: 4th -> 1:43.328 (12 Laps)
The young Dutchman seemed to inherit his teammate’s setup issues. Number 33 never managed to outpace number 3, whether on ultra-soft tires in Q1 and Q3, or on super-soft tires in Q2.
« I am not happy. The weekend as a whole was solid, but I wasn’t comfortable in Q3. »
His disappointment was already visible onboard his car when he complained to his race engineer about his first run in Q3, claiming that both the front and the rear of his car were locking up.
Fortunately, the only non-Mercedes winner this season salvages the situation with a fourth place, ahead of Räikkönen’s Ferrari and behind Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. Aggressive at Spa-Francorchamps, discreet at Monza, what will his strategy be when the five red lights go out tomorrow in Singapore? The harshness of this race will be a real test for him, even if his comeback last year inspires confidence. Starting 22nd due to a technical issue on the grid, the Toro Rosso driver at the time climbed back up to eighth position at the finish, thanks to some spectacular overtakes. But also due to defying his pit wall’s orders, which demanded he let Carlos Sainz Jr. pass.
