Ricciardo: DNF thwarted double points finish for McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo believes a double points finish was on the cards for McLaren in Saudi Arabia before his efforts were thwarted by a mechanical failure.

Ricciardo and his teammate Lando Norris were running P11 and P12 when the leading McLaren suddenly lost drive with fifteen laps left on the board.

The Aussie was forced to abandon his car on the pitlane while Norris enjoyed a clean run to the checkered flag that saw the Briton finish P7.

The result delivered to McLaren its first points of the season, but Ricciardo reckoned it could have been a double top-ten for the papaya squad in Jeddah had he seen the checkered flag.

"I lost drive so there could be a number of things, maybe drive shaft if I was to guess but I am no mechanic so don’t take my word for it," Ricciardo told the media.

"Think we could’ve had double points which would have been pretty awesome from where we were a week ago."

McLaren kicked off its 2022 campaign on the back foot in Bahrain, with the team's Mercedes-powered MCL36 dogged by a significant lack of downforce.

But in Saudi Arabia, Ricciardo felt that some progress had been achieved.

"I think there are some positives to take from the weekend for sure, we still have a lot to go but certainly some progress which is nice," he said.

"I think the racing is fun; you can follow this year and I think everything that we hoped would come out of these new cars so far is true, so I am very happy with that and like watching the battle for the lead.

"Course I want to be there but to know we can fight hard like that this year is really exciting so hopefully we will be battling for some bigger positions soon."

• Read also: F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2022 Saudi Arabia GP

Ricciardo admitted that Jeddah's layout was perhaps a factor in McLaren's slight improvement. And looking ahead to F1's trip Down Under to his home country, the Aussie believes Melbourne could also suit his MCL36.

"I think the characteristics of this circuit certainly seem to help us, I think both of us although we were not setting the time sheets alight we had a bit more confidence with the car from FP1," he commented.

"So it still might ebb and flow depending on some circuits we go to, but looking at Melbourne and the changes they have made I think it is going to be quite flowing, hopefully that suits us.

"I think for the racing it will be good fun, so we will see what happens.

"I am excited to go home and compete there, for now we will keep chipping away and we can’t promise amazing results yet but we have got to keep at it and I am sure some better things are on the horizon."

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