sport news Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo sad despite fifth place at Singapore GP ... trends now
Daniel Ricciardo recorded his best performance of the season at the Singapore Grand Prix, but the embattled Aussie F1 star was in no mood for wild celebrations.
The Aussie finished fifth on Sunday night after starting 16th on the grid at the Marina Bay circuit, just behind teammate Lando Norris as the McLaren team picked up a rare double top five finish.
Their solid results came in a wild race that saw six drivers unable to finish.
The result was essential for Ricciardo, who is shopping himself to rival teams after the announcement that fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri will take his place at McLaren next season.
The 33-year-old only has a handful of races to prove himself to another Formula 1 team before he leaves McLaren, and a top five finish will no doubt do wonders for his confidence.
Daniel Ricciardo (pictured) recorded his best performance of the season at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday evening, finishing fifth
Ricciardo reflected that it's 'pretty sad' that the finish is his best since December 2021
Red Bull's Sergio Perez produced an amazing drive to win the race ahead of Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
After a shaky qualifying performance, Ricciardo started at 16th on the grid, but made up three places on the opening lap.
A wet track caused havoc with six drivers not finishing the race, and the Aussie made the most of it - surging through the field as fortune favoured McLaren.
After the race he acknowledged that he benefited greatly from the timing of the safety car.
'Obviously that's let's say good fortune but I think through our maturity we created some of that ourselves and then top five, somehow, someway,' he told Sky Sports.
