Ricciardo happy with improved McLaren results at home GP

After two years of absence from the calendar, there will be a home race for Daniel Ricciardo in 2022. The Aussie is excited about a somewhat more positive Friday than the other two Fridays this year for McLaren.

McLaren had one of the biggest setbacks at the start of the 2022 F1 season. Lando Norris and Ricciardo are no longer competing, as they did last year, for the podium spots. Ricciardo finished in the top ten twice on Friday in Australia which is already a big relief for 'the Honey Badger'. To the media in his home country, he sounds delighted.

Ricciardo happy with top ten

"Hopefully our picture is not skewed. The car feels good. It is also a nice track. Turn 6 was always a fun corner, but now it has become even faster and more fun. You fly off the kerbstone at the exit."

In the past two years, McLaren drivers wouldn't necessarily be elated about finishing both practice sessions in the top ten, but in 2022 that seems like an achievement in itself. "Hopefully we can keep this up tomorrow," says Ricciardo."The good thing is that we have confidence in the car. I think we made a good step this afternoon."

The Australian says he is especially pleased with the stints on the medium tyre. With the softer tyre, on the other hand, he had more trouble.

Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez also commented that he had more trouble with the soft tire. Possibly this has to do with Pirelli's choice to skip a compound in the 'tire selection menu'. The soft tyre is namely very soft for the brand new asphalt of Albert Park.