'Move on': Daniel Ricciardo suffers horror start in F1 season-opener

Aussie McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo has suffered a horror drive after he placed 18th during qualification for the F1 season opener in Bahrain, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton suffered.

Ricciardo was only released from Covid-19 isolation on Thursday and with little time in his McLaren, the Aussie clearly struggled as he finished 18th at the Sakhir circuit ahead of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and Williams' Nicholas Latifi.

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The Aussie had previously stated he felt comfortable after a test drive in Barcelona, but the Bahrain circuit proved to be too much of a challenge.

"It's been a bit of an uphill battle ... not too surprised but we've just got to try and move up from here," Ricciardo said.

Team boss Andrea Seidl was realistic when looking at Ricciardo's position after the horror season-opener for McLaren.

"I think we just saw the result of everything that happened in the last seven, eight days," Seidl told Sky Sports television.

"I think he was on the back foot from the beginning going into this weekend with missing out on the test last week, then he lost additional laps yesterday with the water leak that we had and therefore it was always a difficult challenge for him today.

"In addition, we just struggled really all weekend so far here with the pace of the car. I think also that’s a result from all the fire-fighting we’ve had to do in the seven or eight days.

"We simply have to accept it and move on."

Unfortunately for McLaren, teammate Lando Norris qualified in 13th.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes' worrying start

Mercedes predicted a tough battle to record a ninth straight title, but rivals quickly dismissed the pre-season talk.

However, there appears to be some truth in the claims after Lewis Hamilton was more than half a second off Leclerc's pace in fifth while George Russell, in his first race as a full-time Mercedes driver, was a disappointing ninth.

"It feels good, the last two years have been incredibly difficult for the team and we knew this year's rules would be an opportunity for us," said Leclerc after taking his 10th career pole and second in Bahrain.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished in pole position in a monumental moment for Italian giants Ferrari.

The Monegasque lit up the timing screens with a lap of one minute 30.558 seconds to beat world champion Max Verstappen by 0.123 seconds on Saturday.

Verstappen, who clinched his first title at last year's finale in Abu Dhabi, had gone fastest in the final practice session earlier on Saturday.

He could not hit the sweet spot with the balance when it mattered, however, but is confident he has a strong car for Sunday's race.

"It was a bit of hit and miss, Q2 seemed quite good, Q3 was a struggle with the balance and to get it together. But we have a good race car and it is a good start for tomorrow."

with Wires

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