Daniel Ricciardo happy to be "fast and fighting" in Monza qualifying
Daniel Ricciardo has claimed fifth position in Friday qualifying at Monza ahead of Saturday's sprint race.
Daniel Ricciardo said he was happy after a competitive qualifying session at Monza. (Supplied)
"From a general standpoint, I’m happy," said Ricciardo.
"We were fast and were fighting for top three on the grid, so I’m happy we had the potential to do that."
Ricciardo had to fight his way through a hectic qualifying session on the fast and crowded Monza circuit.
Multiple drivers were forced to abandon laps early in the session due to traffic.
Red Bull had the early pace but Mercedes were fastest, with Valtteri Bottas on pole position for the sprint race.
Fifth is Ricciardo's second best qualifying position this season, after Spa.
Daniel Ricciardo prepares for qualifying at Monza with his McLaren engineers. (Supplied)
The McLaren driver was annoyed that he had been so close to the top - only to be beaten by his teammate.
"I’m so frustrated that we got that close but not quite close enough," he said after this week's result.
"It was more of a tease than anything, but it’s all good."
Lewis Hamilton will start on the front row with his teammate, while Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will make up the second row ahead of Ricciardo.
"I think the team performance was great," said the Australia, celebrating his teammate's performance.
"We didn’t put ourselves in a difficult situation with any of the out-laps and I was in the right places in terms of track position, we had good tows."
"My only frustration is that it’s so close and, unfortunately, I was on the wrong side of the milliseconds."
"It is what it is and I’m now looking forward to the racing.”
