Daniel Ricciardo was left downbeat after the promise of leading both Friday practice sessions was unfulfilled with a lowly sixth on the grid for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
It was Red Bull’s two main weaknesses that would hurt the Australian as poor reliability, a hydraulics problem on this occasion would cause him to stop out on track in final practice, and a lack of additional engine modes in qualifying would drop him down the order.
Ricciardo acknowledges maintaining his Friday position was always going to be very difficult, but does think he could have been higher up but for the lack of preparation in the morning.
“For sure disappointed,” he said describing his over-riding emotion after qualifying. “Yesterday was a good day and I was realistic – I knew pole was not in the bag but I thought we could definitely be strong today regardless.
“I genuinely think if we got the running this morning it would have helped us out a lot and even looking at the end, like the last lap, it was still a bit of a mess.
“We are only a tenth or something off Hamilton. I am probably just as frustrated at that as well, that we from kind of nowhere we still got pretty close. But in the end not close enough. I think we will find a way to be quick tomorrow.”
The 28-year-old would pass a Ferrari and a Mercedes when claimed victory at the Hungaroring in 2014 and thinks he may have to bring out that aggressive side if he is to move forward again this year.
“If we can get track position then we can help ourselves. We will be alright, it will be a fun race,” he said. “I am not convinced that I will have many friends afterwards but that is okay because I am at the tail end of that pack I need to force my way through.
“We can’t overtake these guys easily so for sure if I am going to move forward it will take some nice moves. I have had fun around here in the past overtaking. Some drivers are not too confident with their mirrors.
“This year they say that visibility is quite bad, so it gives me more of an excuse to go for it.”
Finally, the man nicknamed the ‘Honey Badger’ believes even hotter temperatures predicted for Sunday could lead to an opening up of tyre strategies.
“It is going to be tough tomorrow with the heat,” he claimed. “Ferrari saved two softs, if it gets really hot this could be quite good for them. So we will see.
“I am ready for anything but we are going to have to manage the tyres. It will very unlikely be a one stop race.”
