F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Ricciardo still struggling in Hungary to 'lean on the car'

Daniel Ricciardo admitted to still finding it hard to extract from his McLaren car the "last few tenths" that would allow him to mix it up with the first half of the field in qualifying.

Ricciardo enjoyed an upswing in performance at Silverstone two weeks ago where he qualified P6, just one spot behind teammate Lando Norris.

But in Hungary, the Aussie found himself once again outside of the top-ten on Saturday, concluding qualifying P11 but almost four tenths of a second down on Norris.

"I knew after Silverstone there were no guarantees that we'd be automatically quick here. It's a very different track," Ricciardo told Sky F1. "But it's definitely a track I enjoy, so that normally counts for something.

"But it's when we really try and get those last few tenths out of it and lean on the car, it's hard. It's hard to kind of basically feel it and get what I'm after.

©McLaren

"I think the lap itself felt okay for what I had, but obviously okay isn't good enough. We just keep trying.

"Obviously we're approaching the summer break. I would have loved for it to have been a lot better by now, but it's proven tricky so we keep going."

Ricciardo has made every effort to adapt his style to a car that even Norris has admitted is a difficult proposition at times.

After struggling to get on top of the MCL35M's braking, which he feels he now masters, the Aussie is still fine-tuning his driving to his machine's turn-in characteristics.

"The braking actually now is in a pretty good place," explained the seven-time Grand Prix winner. "We made a good step a few races ago.

"It's a bit of everything. It's definitely a bit of style, like if I try to get the car to do what I want, it doesn't quite work with what I would usually do, so it's trying to adapt that style.

"Also on top of that, it kind of gives you a different feel and a different sensation. It all starts with turning and that kind of dictates the feel throughout the whole corner.

"Some corners I can get kind of comfortable with it, and others it's very challenging.

"We'll have a tyre choice tomorrow, hopefully that means something."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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