Ricciardo out-qualifies world champion teammate Vettel, applies pressure to Mercedes
Daniel Ricciardo provided Mercedes with the closest challenge in Singapore qualifying, taking third spot with a lap time that was just 0.173 seconds off pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.
Ricciardo outqualified Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel for the first time in four races.
“It’s definitely encouraging,” said the Australian. “Coming into the weekend I thought if we could be within two or three tenths it should give us a bit more optimistic chance in the race to stay with them, so, yeah, I think we ended up a bit closer than we thought we would, particularly after yesterday. So I think it was a good day.
“Street circuits are fun. I think all us drivers enjoy them. You jump across kerbs, you brush near the wall, it’s a little bit like the closer you get the more you want to risk and I guess that’s why we race, we love that rush, that adrenaline.
“It’s like speed, we wish we could go faster. It’s a bit like that when you come to a street circuit, you just really enjoy handling the car, playing with fire, so to speak. It’s not always the quickest way when it’s sliding around but I think you’ve got to take hold on a street circuit so that’s where I get the enjoyment.”
Ricciardo expects a closely fought race: “It’s pretty cool how many cars are within half a second or a second. So, it’s going to be a fun race tomorrow definitely. I think tires will be key, as always, but particularly here. It’s not going to be as straightforward as Monza with a one stop. So, it should be fun.”
