The last session of qualifications of the 2021 World Championship has rekindled the confidence and hopes of McLaren, with both of its drivers classified in the top ten of the starting grid of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While Lando Norris finished with a surprising third place, behind the ‘usual’ duo Verstappen-Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo he did not go beyond the tenth, however useful for launching the final offensive to Ferrari for the conquest – albeit rather unlikely – of third place in the constructors’ championship.
Waiting to see how Sunday’s race will develop, the Australian is ready to archive a special season for his career: in GP of Italyin fact, the number 3 took his first victory at the wheel of the McLaren, giving the Grove team their first success in F1 after nine years of absence from the top step of the podium. On that occasion, the smiling driver from Perth had also taken the best position of the season on the starting grid, starting from 2nd position after the Sprint Qualifying in Monza.
Today, in Yas Marina, Ricciardo has to settle for the fifth row, a result that is anything but pleasing to the former Red Bull driver: “It was a difficult session – He admitted – tires were my biggest problem, as I have not been able to improve the pace. I have to try to figure out if there is anything I can do to put the eraser in the right window. It is up to me to try to understand it. Otherwise, we will try to find the right strategy based on tomorrow’s position. I hope there may be episodes that allow us to make the most of it. Lando was strong, I’m really happy for him. Obviously – he concluded – we would like to be higher, together with him, but today I didn’t make it ”.
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