McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo scored his first points of the 2022 season at his home Grand Prix in Australia.
The 32-year-old and his British teammate Lando Norris both brought home vital points for the team this weekend after struggling through the first two rounds.
Speaking after the race, a delighted Ricciardo jokingly said: “I am satisfied enough I would say.
“It is by far our best result of the season, personally and a team result.
“First part of the race I thought we were there with Mercedes and holding their DRS but then as the race progressed that was probably our pace.”
Daniel Ricciardo had said he was ‘quietly confident’ on Saturday evening after Qualifying.
The McLaren driver was hoping for a better fate at the Albert Park Circuit this time out – he lost his front wing in 2019 on his debut for Renault during the opening lap and later retired with technical issues.
Speaking after Qualifying, he told reporters he was satisfied but didn’t feel his final lap was all the MCL36 had.
“I think generally satisfied,” he said.
“From those kind of points of view I’m happy, so I think overall the whole weekend has been pretty good.
“The only little ‘err’ was the last run – I went about a second slower with a new set of tyres, so that’s hurting a little bit at the moment.
“I could have maybe been a little better getting something out of that, but generally I’m happy with how this week is going so far.”
Speaking about his potential to score points, he had said: “It feels alright.
“There are a couple of quicker ones [around us], but in front of us Mercedes are obviously not their usual selves, so I think we could maybe put up a fight with them.
“We’ll be all right tomorrow – I’m quietly confident.”
His teammate Lando Norris took off P4 this morning sandwiched between the two Red Bull drivers ahead of him and both Mercedes men in his rearview mirrors – and managed to finish in fifth.
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