If Daniel Ricciardo wants to join Mark Webber and Jack Brabham as an Australian winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, he’s going to have to produce an amazing lap in qualifying.
At no other race on the Formula One calendar is qualifying more important than it is on the famous streets of the principality. And Ricciardo knows it.
His practice effort on Thursday was quick by any measure and his lap record was only eclipsed by Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel, who threw down an amazing 1:12.70 to beat Ricciardo by four-tenths of a second.
“We have good downforce here, the rear of the car feels like it is working the best it has so far this year,” Ricciardo said.
“If we can get the tyres warmed up I think we can be pretty close on Saturday.”
The problem with close is, in Monaco it is rarely good enough.
In the past decade only one driver has won the race from behind the front row.
Lewis Hamilton did so in 2008 and 2016 (both times he qualified third) and only one driver has won it from second – Hamilton’s then Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in 2015.
In those latest two races team bungles hurt the pole-sitter dearly – in 2015 Hamilton’s team made a timing miscalculation that cost him.
In 2016 Ricciardo’s garage weren’t ready for his pit stop and the Australian fumed on the team radio as he watched his hopes of Monaco glory fade away because his tyres weren’t ready.
But Ricciardo is keeping the faith he can be quick on Saturday even if Vettel has his confidence up.
“We have to wait for Saturday to get a clear picture, but it is nice to have a good feeling with the car already,” Vettel said after Thursday practice.
“I was very happy with the first run in the morning and since then we didn’t have to change too much, but we improved the car in the afternoon. It feels good on a quick lap.”
The good news for Ricciardo is there are similarities between 2016, when he surprised many to claim pole in Monaco, and this year.
Ricciardo improved dramatically at the Spanish Grand Prix last year before setting the Monaco circuit alight.
In 2016 he finished Thursday’s second practice quickest, before he claimed pole on Saturday afternoon, and second in practice heading into the Saturday this year is a good sign.
The big question is what will Mercedes do and did they just cruise on Thursday?
So often the pacesetters during the week, Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas struggled with their car set-up in the afternoon session to be eighth and 10th respectively.
Hamilton remains optimistic they can get it right on Saturday.
“I’m confident the team can work it out,” he said.
“This is definitely the best car I’ve driven around here. Ferrari are very quick again and Red Bull are also looking good this weekend. We’re looking forward to a real fight on Saturday.”
