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Daniel Ricciardo explodes over 'bulls**t' F1 qualifying drama

chris young
Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Daniel Ricciardo is pictured wearing a face mask during a press conference at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo blew up after another driver's error cost him in qualifying, but he was back to his affable ways when he got back to the paddock. (Photo by Mark SUTTON / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MARK SUTTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian F1 star Daniel Ricciardo has secured 10th place on the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix while Valtteri Bottas upset the odds to beat Lewis Hamilton to pole position for the season-opening race.

Ricciardo clocked a best one minute 04.023seconds behind closed doors on the 4.318km Red Bull Ring on Saturday as the lead Renault driver.

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World champion Hamilton had dominated the weekend in Spielberg, topping every practice session.

But Bottas delivered when it mattered most to prevent his Mercedes teammate from opening the defence of his title with top slot on the grid.

The Finn ran off the road on his final lap, but despite Hamilton improving with his last throw of the dice, it is Bottas who will line up first.

While the Mercedes driver will be looking to get one up on his teammate, he’ll do well to check his mirrors for Ricciardo, whose own qualifying lap was ruined after Bottas’ brief excursion into the outfield.

Trailing behind and hoping to capitalise on some promising signs for Renault, Ricciardo was furious as the yellow flags were waved to warn him of Bottas’ mistake.

“I don’t know why there was a yellow,” Ricciardo said over the team radio.

“There was a yellow two corners for nothing.”

While his team provided an explanation, nothing could stop a fired up Ricciardo from labelling the situation ‘bull***t’, before later calming down upon seeing the replay of what had happened.

Daniel Ricciardo optimistic despite qualifying drama

Ricciardo, who is set to join McLaren for next season, later said in the paddock he understood why the yellow flags came out.

Nonetheless, the Australia driver was disappointed to only end up with 10th on the grid after an otherwise impressive qualifying session.

“I may have got a bit carried away,” he said of his radio outburst.

“I saw a bit of dust but I just thought he dropped a wheel.

“I saw yellow flags and flashing lights so I thought they overreacted to him dropping a wheel but apparently he went right off, I didn‘t see that.

“If that’s the case, unlucky Daniel.”

Bottas will start the Austrian GP from pole, with teammate Lewis Hamilton starting from second and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen third.

With AAP