Ricciardo Left In The Dark By Results Of Pre-Season Testing

Friday, 23 February 2024 at 16:15

Daniel Ricciardo discussed the results of the second day of pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit.

Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Carlos Sainz topped the timing sheets on Thursday, the second day of pre-season testing. He put in a time that almost broke Verstappen's fastest qualifying lap from the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix.

However, it doesn't mean that we can now conclude that Ferrari will be the fastest team on the grid this year. In fact, Daniel Ricciardo told the media in Bahrain that Sainz's time doesn't suggest anything.

"If you see Sainz in first, there are so many questions: Is it fuel? Is it the engine? Is it disallowed, and at what time of the day? So you just never know."

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In relation to where his team - RB (formerly Alphatauri), stands, the Honey Badger asserted he expects to start the season somewhere in the midfield.

"So I think regardless of where we are on the timesheets, I am just staying somewhere in the middle."

While the Australian driver previously stated his goal for the season is top-five finishes, he now suggested that Q3 and any result in the points would be a success for the first weekend.

"I am aware we're not going to be a pole position car next week, but I like to think we are still in that midfield hunt, and for us to start the season, if we find ourselves in Q3 and points on a Sunday, that's a good start. I think that's the goal."

Ricciard completed 88 laps and set the fifth-fastest lap of the second testing day. However, as he himself stated, different tire compound fuel loads and car settings make it hard to compare. He added:

"Whether we get it or not, time will tell, but I think that's the start. Then as the season goes on, as we learn a bit more about the car and working together with a lot of new personnel, I think that's when we can start to push the bar a little more."