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F1: Ricciardo looks for points finish after qualifying 10th-fastest

Daniel Ricciardo prepares for action at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo prepares for action at the Spanish Grand Prix. Photo: Getty

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo says he is on the hunt for points in Monday morning’s (AEST) Spanish Grand Prix, despite taking a three-place grid penalty that will see him start from 13th.

Ricciardo’s time of 1:8.106s at the Circuit de Catalunya was 10th-fastest after a mixed session in his Renault where he was almost eliminated earlier.

“We did a pretty good job to get into Q3 today. That was the target and I certainly felt after yesterday we had the potential to achieve that,” Ricciardo said in a team statement.

“We probably could have been slightly higher in the order for Q3, but I lost the rear out of Turn 13 on the second run and lost some time.

“That stopped it from being a really good session, but, in any case, it was a strong effort today.

We have the penalty to add, but we’ll get our heads down in the race and look for points.”

Mercedes Valtteri Bottas will start from pole position having clocked a blistering time of 1:15.406 seconds that could not be beaten by any later challengers.

“I really enjoyed that. I feel better and better in the car and I am looking forward to tomorrow,” Bottas said, having again taken the title challenge up to his teammate Lewis Hamilton.

His time was 0.634s quicker than Hamilton’s, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in third with1:16.272.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start fourth, with Charles Leclerc fifth in the other Ferrari.

Despite starting in second place Hamilton said the upgrades brought by Mercedes to the start of the traditional European part of the campaign were working well.

The Briton, winner for the past two seasons in Barcelona and three times in all, said Bottas had simply been quicker on the day.

“Valtteri did a fantastic job, he’s been quick all weekend,” said Hamilton.

“On my side, I just didn’t put the lap together … ultimately it just wasn’t a good enough job.

“It’s great for the team to have this one-two so we’ll try and convert that into a one-two (on Sunday) and if I can reverse it I’ll be happy.”

Mercedes have won the first four races one-two, a record start for any team, despite Ferrari setting the pace in pre-season testing.

“I think we got everything out of the car in the first run,” said Vettel. “In the second run I had to try something different and it didn’t work.

“The car doesn’t feel bad but obviously we are not quick enough. In terms of balance we got it more or less right,” added the German, who said Ferrari were still down on grip through the slower corners.

-with AAP

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