Daniel Ricciardo hopes Red Bull's contrary choice of starting on Pirelli's hypersoft tyre will provide the team with an edge at the start of Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.
The Aussie qualified P6 on Saturday afternoon, with team mate Max Verstappen three places ahead following a session that perhaps did not reflect the progress Ricciardo feels was achieved.
"In the end the sixth on paper is not that satisfying, but I actually feel like in qualifying we made a lot of progress," said the Red Bull driver.
"We struggled pretty much all weekend, we struggled for some rhythm, we had a few problems yesterday and even this morning we had a few problems in the first part of practice some other issues.
"I feel like we were always kind of one step back, I think we got our stuff together in qualifying and I felt the laps were worth more than a sixth place, but in the end they weren't," he added.
"Obviously it's a bit frustrating to be at the tail end (of the top six), but I think honestly we what we had I really felt I didn't do a bad job.
"The others did a bit better but I'm not really bitter or anything at myself, I honestly did the best I could today."
Red Bull elected to run on the hypersoft compound in Q2, a strategic decision destined to provide its drivers with an edge at the outset on Sunday and keep them out of sequence thereafter against their direct rivals who will all be starting on the harder ultrasoft rubber.
"That’s why we opted for the hyper, we feel we can manage the situation a little bit better," said Ricciardo.
"Even though Max was quick all throughout practice we still thought the chance of pole was a bit of an outside shot.
"We knew we'd probably have cars to overtake, particularly in the beginning, and just starting on that hyper could just give us that opportunity.
"If we did the same as the others, it would just probably put us in the running sequence of everyone, so this is why we'll try it and hopefully it works."
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