F1 News
Ricciardo suspects McLaren have an upgrade in France "they told no one about"
Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Renault star Daniel Ricciardo was happy to qualify in eighth place for the French team at their home Grand Prix, as the Aussie thinks the two McLaren cars ahead of him have had an upgrade installed ahead of the weekend "they told no one about".
Ricciardo left his teammate Nico Hülkenberg behind once again, as the 29-year-old qualified five places ahead of the German, who was left stranded in Q2 and will start from P13.
It makes it seven straight times that Ricciardo has been the better qualifier at Renault, but the seven-time Grand Prix winner only looks at the cars in front of him; McLaren, particularly, who qualified in fifth and sixth, their highest starting place since Austria 2016.
"We got beat by the two McLarens and they have a little update they told no one about, I think," Ricciardo told BBC Sport F1.
"It's impressive, their pace, and we couldn't match that so I think P8 was the maximum and I'm pretty happy with that."
Ricciardo went out on the medium compound in Q2 so he could start on those on Sunday, but he struggled to get the most out of the tyre, he explains.
"I had a few moments I had to abort in Q2, and I was on the mediums which I haven't used all weekend."
Finally, there was an incident in Q1 where Kimi Raikkonen, who had gone wide at turn 12, rejoined the track right in front of Ricciardo, making him second-guess and going off the gas. What does Ricciardo make of the incident?
"I just heard now I think I have to go and see the stewards from the incident with Kimi."
To be continued.
