Daniel Ricciardo: The car allowed us to reach the final

Daniel Ricciardo posted the thirteenth fastest time in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix and believes the car’s speed allowed him to reach the final qualifying session, but the team chose the wrong strategy in the second session and set his fastest lap ahead of his rivals, who were able to improve.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda qualified eighteenth, but the day before it was already known that the Japanese RB driver would lose 60 positions at the start as punishment for changing the power unit.

Daniel Ricciardo (13th): “Today I was happy with the car and I think we could count on a good 13th place. I am disappointed with the result but happy with the pace. Overall the car allowed us to reach the final.

The rain got heavier in the second session, so we decided to try early in case the track conditions got worse. At the time it seemed like a good decision, and I even increased it a bit. But the rain didn’t get any worse and while I stayed in the pits, the others went even faster.

I feel comfortable on a dry track and we hope that there will be no rain tomorrow. Normally, races in Spa are one-pit stops, but today the weather is bad, the rain has washed away a layer of rubber from the asphalt and tomorrow the grip may be worse. In this case, a race with two pit stops is possible. In such a scenario, the strategy can create extra opportunities.”

Yuki Tsunoda (18th): “Qualifying was not normal for me, because I will lose positions at the start due to an engine change, so I just had to drive a lap and feel the car.

The behaviour of the car was very different from yesterday and that’s good. I’m happy with everything and I’ve gathered more information. Now the team and I will focus on the race.

Overtaking won’t be easy because the DRS train effect is strong on this track. But we will try to get the best out of the car and the strategy, work together as a team and hopefully earn some points.”