F1 2020: Nico Hulkenberg stuns in qualifying ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen
Daniel Ricciardo and two ex-teammates shared a great moment of sportsmanship on the grid after a qualifying session nobody saw coming.
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Mercedes has once again locked out the front row of the grid for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone but a thrilling qualifying has thrown up a few surprises.
Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo will start from the third row of the grid after qualifying fifth as the Aussie’s new found speed shone through.
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After coming fourth in last week’s British Grand Prix, Ricciardo impressed in practice on Friday, finishing third fastest in the second practice session.
He was again impressive in Saturday’s qualifying to claim fifth with Valtteri Bottas claiming pole ahead of Lewis Hamilton on the front row of the grid.
On the final lap, Ricciardo, who had been sitting in third more than a second behind the Mercedes drivers, was overtaken by two ex-teammates, with Nico Hulkenberg stunning the grid, claiming third, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed fourth.
Ricciardo was two-tenths of a second behind Hulkenberg, who was axed by Renault at the end of last year. The German is only back driving with Racing Point as a replacement for Sergio Perez, who tested positive to COVID-19 before the British GP.
“That’s a cracking time from Ricciardo,” Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle said after the lap that set his qualifying time.
The Aussie F1 veteran was thrilled with the performance and said P5 was about right.
“I think it was nice, everyone was a bit surprised with P3 yesterday (in practice), and in a way there was probably a bit of pressure for the team to deliver it again,” Ricciardo said.
“I don’t think anyone expected P3 but they expected somewhere around where we are now so to do it, P5, I’m stoked.”
As for the difference between last season and this one, Ricciardo couldn’t put his finger on the change.
“The rear of the car is definitely working better, I don‘t know what part of the car it is which is the real reason but we’re able to get on the power earlier, you can feel the downforce is there and it’s working,” he said.
Ricciardo also shared a nice moment with Hulkenberg, waiting to congratulate his former Renault teammate alongside Verstappen in a great show of sportsmanship.
“To be a tenth off Max, we‘re obviously very happy with that,” Ricciardo said. “There’s a lot of progress there, I think we were eight-tenths off him last week.
“But then the Hulk’s come in and I think he’s adjusted his neck this week and he’s feeling free and ready to go.
“But honestly, hats off to him. We all know that car’s working but I don’t just want to say it’s the car. He’s obviously done a really good job. And to be sitting on the couch so long, it’s not easy. He’s a veteran, it’s not easy, I don’t care what anyone says so hats off to him, he’s done a really good job.”
Nice moment in parc ferme, Verstappen and Ricciardo go straight over to Hulkenberg to congratulate him on that result. Mega stuff #F1 #F170
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) August 8, 2020
It’s Hulkenberg’s best qualifying result since finishing second in the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix and he was stunned by the result after a whirlwind week, which included his car not turning on in his return to Silverstone.
No doubt qualifying third-fastest was a result Hulkenberg never saw coming given he wasn’t even competing in the sport until just over a week ago.
“A crazy seven or eight days,” Hulkenberg told Sky Sports. “Obviously last week, with the big high to come back and the low on Sunday (not starting the race), it was very extreme.
“This weekend I felt much better in the car, much more prepared. Qualy was still tricky and in Q2 I made life hard for myself a bit and I was scared I’d damaged the car.
“Q3 was just head down, full beans, whatever I had — and a bit surprised to stand here. But obviously a big smile on my face and a lot of respect for the race tomorrow.
“It‘s definitely going to hurt tomorrow not having last week’s experience and not having gone through the motions there with the start and everything. But we’ll do what we can, I’ll try to learn fast, and keep the car where it deserves to be.”
F1 legend Jenson Button told Sky Sports: “He didn’t do any preparation for this season in terms for working with the team, also on his fitness, so to come here on his second weekend with the team and put it P3, that is an extraordinary lap.”
There were also a couple of negative shocks with Sebastian Vettel’s woes continuing with his worst qualifying effort of the season.
The four-time world champion was knocked out in Q2 and will start from 12th on the grid.
Vettel’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was honest and said “we have been struggling more than last week”, sensationally admitting that “maybe we shouldn’t expect a podium for us tomorrow”.
Ricciardo‘s current Renault teammate Esteban Ocon also didn’t benefit from his increased speed, out in Q2 in 11th while McLaren had a poor day with Carlos Sainz in 13th. His stablemate Lando Norris could only manage 10th.
STARTING GRID
Row 1: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Row 2: Nico Hulkenberg (Racing Point) - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Row 3: Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) - Lance Stroll (Racing Point)
Row 4: Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) - Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Row 5: Alexander Albon (Red Bull) - Lando Norris (McLaren)
Row 6: Esteban Ocon (Renault) - Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Row 7: Carlos Sainz (McLaren) - Romain Grosjean (Haas)
Row 8: George Russell (Williams) - Daniil Kvyat (AlphaTauri)
Row 9: Kevin Magnussen (Haas) - Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
Row 10: Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) - Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo)
Originally published as F1 2020: Nico Hulkenberg stuns in qualifying ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen