Daniel Ricciardo qualified in the top 10 for his final race with McLaren for Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Key points:
- Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- The Australian will reportedly join Red Bull in 2023 as a reserve driver
- McLaren trails Alpine by 19 points in the battle for fourth in the constructors’ championship
The Australian was competitive during qualifying on Saturday but was unable to put together a flawless lap during the final session.
He qualified 10th but will start 13th after a penalty he received for causing a lap 1 crash with Kevin Magnussen during last week’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil.
Ricciardo ends his time with McLaren at the end of this season and is rumoured to be headed to Red Bull as a reserve driver in 2023, although a contract has reportedly not been signed yet.
He said he will aim to be positive in the early stages of Sunday’s race around the Yas Marina circuit.
“I will try to attack from the start, make up a few positions and put myself back in the fight with the top ten,” he said.
Ricciardo will be hoping for a better outing than last week.
His teammate Lando Norris qualified seventh despite not feeling he had a great session.
“I struggled a bit, not having enough confidence to push the car, but at the same time, we secured the best position we could,” Norris said.
McLaren is in a fight with French outfit Alpine for fourth in the constructors’ championship.
Alpine have a 19-point advantage heading into the final race of the season.
Their drivers Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso will start eighth and 10th respectively.
World champion Max Verstappen will start on pole alongside Sergio Pérez, a week after the pair had a contentious moment at the end of the Brazilian grand Prix.