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Australian F1 star Daniel Ricardo Already admitted, he takes relief entering Q3 in one of the most challenging seasons of his career as he prepares for what will be his final race at McLaren and, quite possibly, in Formula One.
Ricciardo’s future has been shrouded in uncertainty since McLaren terminated the 33-year-old’s contract earlier this year, with the team not interested in a string of underwhelming performances this season.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo (pictured) admits he is relieved to be heading into Q3 after one of the most challenging seasons of his career as he prepares for McLaren and Formula One’s final race game preparation
Red Bull chief executive Helmut Marko confirmed to Sky Sports last week that Ricciardo will be their third driver for 2023, as a replacement for reigning world champions Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Red Bull chief executive Helmut Marko confirmed to Sky Sports last week that Ricciardo will be their third driver for 2023, as a replacement for reigning world champions Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. .
Ricciardo finished 10th in the final race of the season but will start 13th after a collision with Kevin Magnussen in Brazil.
He told Viaplay, “I won’t miss my lack of competitiveness this year.”
“Qualifying is obviously not my forte with this car, but to stay there [for] For an entire hour, in the third quarter, I thought it was just a relief.
“Obviously I’m missing three tenths [of a second] Or something for Lando, so a little more [of a gap].’
“However, this year has come and gone and it’s no surprise. I’m just happy to make it to the end.
Ricciardo says qualifying has not been his “strong suit” this year and is “a bit relieved” going into Q3
After Max Verstappen took pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton will have to overtake both Red Bull and Ferrari to maintain his winning record every season of his career.
Hamilton had earlier escaped penalty for a red-flag violation in final practice for the sport’s season-ending race, finishing fifth.
Verstappen finished two-tenths of a second ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, with the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz third and fourth respectively.
Max Verstappen takes pole position at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for third consecutive year
The world champion will start the end of his record-breaking season at the top of the grid
Perez and Leclerc are level on points in the battle for second place in the championship.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will retire after Sunday’s race, finishing ninth.
A year after last season’s contentious race secured Hamilton a record eighth world title, the seven-time world champion has begun to erase memories of his darkest days, insisting on his desire for the sport Still not extinguished.
Hamilton will start Sunday’s 58-lap race as the only driver in Formula One history to finish the season with at least one victory.
Lewis Hamilton still has a lot of work to do to keep winning record every season of his career
Retiring Sebastian Vettel entered Q3 in his final qualifying session and finished ninth overall
But he looks set to lose that unique record as Red Bull locks down the front row on a track befitting their all-powerful machine.
Sixth-qualified George Russell picked up his first career win at Interlagos a week ago and Mercedes’ first of the season, however, at the Yas Marina Race Illuminated by the thousands of bulbs on the road, it was a sobering night for the Silver Arrow, with Hamilton drifting almost seven out of ten.
Vettel will enter the 299th and final round of his career, a four-time world champion as he heads towards retirement.
The 35-year-old German won his last title nine years ago during his reign with Red Bull.
Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was second fastest ahead of Charles Leclerc for third
But after putting his Aston Martin in the top 10, he had every chance of scoring in his last dance.
Vettel’s former Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo could also race in his final F1 race after he was deemed redundant by McLaren.
The eight-time grand prix winner will rejoin Red Bull next year as reserve driver, and in his 44th and final race for McLaren, the 33-year-old Australian finished 10th. Three places behind British driver Lando Norris has outperformed him in their two seasons together.
Verstappen was jeered by many fans when he spoke after taking his seventh pole position of the year and 20th of his career.
Red Bull invite England T20 World Cup winners to their paddock for qualifier
“It was an up-and-down qualifying session,” the Dutchman said. “It started well, but the second quarter was a mess. I couldn’t catch it, but Q3 felt normal.
“In the end we had a scare. The car stalled before the first run (in the third quarter) and we had to restart everything.
“I’m happy with both cars at the front. We want to win the race, but we also want Sergio to finish second in the championship.
Verstappen and Perez clashed in the final race after refusing to concede sixth on the final lap.
But after qualifying on Saturday, Perez said: “Max did a great job for me today. We worked very closely together as a team and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I hope we can have a strong race.
Catch up on Sportsmail’s live blog for qualifying updates as the Formula 1 campaign kicks off on the final weekend of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, by Ben Willcocks.
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