Daniel Ricciardo just blew the world away at the Italian Grand Prix

Australian Daniel Ricciardo has just delivered a qualifying result that has shocked the world. He says we should have seen this coming.

Daniel Ricciardo is promising all out attack on Max Verstappen in Sunday night’s Italian Grand Prix after a bonkers qualifying sprint race which will see him start on the front row of the grid.

The Australian was promoted to second spot on the grid after Valtteri Bottas was dramatically dropped to the back of the grid after securing pole position.

Bottas’ penalty for making power unit changes has gifted pole to Max Verstappen and has created one of the strangest starting grids of the season.

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes struggled in the sprint race and will start from fourth. Ricciardo’s teammate Lando Norris will also start from the second row.

For Ricciardo, this was huge.

The 32-year-old admitted after qualifying he was daring to dream about ending McLaren’s wait of more than 3200 days to win their first Grand Prix since 2012.

“I’ll probably dream a little bit about it tonight but I’m ready to make that a reality for sure,” Ricciardo said of the possibility of taking his first win since 2018.

“For McLaren it’s been a long time, for me it’s been a long time. So it’s definitely refreshing to be back up here. We’re close.

Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren is on the front row. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

“A few things might have to swing in our favour tomorrow but we’ll certainly put ourselves in the fight, in the hunt. Very excited to get going with that and try to make some good stuff happen.”

He even put Verstappen on notice as he prepares to go head to head with his former Red Bull teammate as they make their run into the first corner.

“Full attack, full attack,” he said when asked about his mentality for the race.

“I mean, today that’s what gave me a chance — a good start. I thought maybe I’d get Max in Turn 1 but he had the inside. I look forward to tomorrow.

“I’m hungry. I’m hungry. Anybody who saw me after qualifying, I think they’re not surprised about this outcome today.”

Ricciardo’s drive means he has also picked up one championship point.

He had breezed past Hamilton in the opening moments and held on to third position to claim second in the grid.

Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton has been stuck on 99 wins since victory at the British GP in July, but after strong displays in both practices and qualifying looked in good shape to make his century.

However he will have his work cut out for him from the second row after Verstappen and Ricciardo came up either side of him in a chaotic start.

French AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly would also have stolen a place on the Briton had he not then slid off the track at the first bend after making contact with Ricciardo.

Daniel Ricciardo finished the race third. Photo by XPB - Pool/Getty Images.

“We’ve got to try and figure out how to get by the McLarens tomorrow and try and limit the damage,” said a disappointed Hamilton.

“Now they (Red Bull) are on pole so it should be an easy race win.”

Just behind Hamilton in the third row will be Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who won at Monza in 2019 and is hoping for the home support to help push the Scuderia to another good result.

His teammate Carlos Sainz will be alongside him after finishing seventh having crashed out of practice earlier on Saturday and then having to sweat on his car being repaired in time for the sprint.

Official qualifying results, starting grid for Italian Grand Prix

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren

3) Lando Norris, McLaren

4) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

5) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

7) Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo

8) Sergio Perez, Red Bull

9) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

10) Fernando Alonso, Alpine