Daniel Ricciardo has endured another tough outing in the Formula 1 World Championship overnight, finishing the Dutch Grand Prix in 17th place.
With McLaren's in the top 10 in the weekend’s first two practice sessions, Ricciardo had every reason to feel optimistic for a good result. Ricciardo and McLaren room for optimism.
 
However, the West Australian failed to post a proper flying lap in Saturday’s qualifying, ultimately eliminating him in Q1.
 
With the race taking place on a circuit notoriously difficult to overtake on, Ricciardo was unable to make up any places, despite the team’s best efforts to give him clean air – although it was a move that had the opposite effect as he ended up further back.
 
Ricciardo then ended up stuck in a DRS train, eventually ending the frustrating race towards the back of the field. 
 
At the front of the field, a dominant Max Verstappen took out his 10th win of the season at his home race after dominating large portions of the afternoon.
 
“It’s one of those venues where you know a tough qualifying hurts,” Ricciardo said.
 
“There’s that reality that you’re not going to carve through eight or nine cars.
 
“Every weekend is a new one, we will try make something good happen, will try and get some magic from Monza.”
 
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who opted for a one-stop strategy, were the Dutchman's biggest competitors throughout the race, setting themselves up for a potential battle towards the end. 
 
However, Verstappen was able to cover Mercedes’ strategy during the safety car intervention, as Russell ended up over the line by four seconds, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium ahead of Hamilton.
 
Leclerc’s second podium in 10 races saw him move to equal second with Sergio Perez on the standings, more than 109 points behind the Mexican’s Red Bull teammate. 
 
As a result of his podium, Russell regained fourth place in the championship after a penalty to Carlos Sainz, which dropped him back to eighth position in the race.
 
The next round of the FIA Formula One World Championship will take place at the famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit on 9-11 September.