Daniel Ricciardo suffers again in F1 qualifying 'shame'

Daniel Ricciardo’s up-and-down F1 season has continued on trend after a disappointing qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix, in which both Renault cars failed to make the third round of timed laps.

The Aussie star missed out on Q3 by an agonisingly tiny margin of just 0.032 seconds, barely slower than the mark set by McLaren’s Lando Norris in 10th.

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Ricciardo wasn’t the only one hard done by after qualifying 13th, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel putting his car 11th on the grid, just 0.002 seconds behind Norris.

The West Australian said it was a ‘shame’ the team hadn’t been able to extract more from the car.

“It was a shame that it was so close out there and we only have thirteenth place to show for it,” Ricciardo said.

“When you miss out by such a little margin, it’s a shame as it could be the difference between four spots on the grid.

“It was a clean lap in Q2, but other teams were able to find a little bit more.”

Ricciardo predicted overtaking would be difficult on the Spanish circuit, with predicted high temperatures likely to make tyre degradation a massive factor in the race.

Despite what looms as a mountain to climb, Ricciardo said he was optimistic Renault could salvage a good points finish.

“We have to find a way tomorrow and we’ll be pushing as best as we can,” Ricciardo said.

“It will be hard for overtaking, but we’ll try.

“It’s going to be hot, the tyres are going to have a workout and there could be some opportunities on strategy for the race.

“I’m still optimistic for points.”

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton took pole for Mercedes, with teammate Valtteri Bottas second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen third.

Daniel Ricciardo’s tattoo bet with Renault F1 boss

Ricciardo is still hoping to leave his mark on Renault Formula One team boss Cyril Abiteboul before making his move to McLaren.

The 31-year-old made a bet with Abiteboul last year under which the Frenchman agreed to get a tattoo of his driver's choosing if Ricciardo made it to the podium with the French team.

Renault have not had a top-three finish since they returned as a constructor in 2016.

Abiteboul hinted at the wager when the driver finished fourth at this month's British Grand Prix and Ricciardo told reporters at the Spanish Grand Prix on Thursday that the boss could choose placement and size but not design.

"This has really broken out now," he said.

"That's the bet... we will clear that up but it is a tattoo, and he does not have any so it's a big deal for Cyril.

"I feel it'll be something probably a little spontaneous, spur of the moment, but it's going to be something funny like when he looks at it he shakes his head.

"And it's like 'Ah, remember those times.' Yeah, one of those ones."

Ricciardo is leaving Renault at the end of the season for rivals McLaren -- which would make the tattoo even more painful for Abiteboul.

With AAP