Daniel Ricciardo finishes fourth in Miami sprint

Daniel Ricciardo savoured his first points of the Formula 1 season with a fourth place in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race but came quickly back to earth a few hours later with a disappointing qualifying effort.

The RB driver, who started the campaign tipped for a return to champions Red Bull next year but has struggled to deliver, started and finished fourth in the sprint. Ricciardo’s signature smile was once again on show after he scored five points.

Daniel Ricciardo was all smiles after scoring his first points of the season in the sprint in Miami.Credit: Getty Images

But there was nothing to smile about during qualifying as Ricciardo failed to make it out of the first phase.

There was more bad news for the Australian who will start last on Sunday because of a three-place penalty carried over from China.

While it was a deflating end to a promising day, finishing fourth in the sprint, albeit in a 100-kilometre race without pit stops, was Ricciardo’s highest placing in any format since 2021 when he was at McLaren.

“Every big result always feels like it’s a needed one. It’s a happy feeling, it’s a powerful feeling,” Ricciardo told Sky Sports television.

“Also to back up yesterday, [sprint] qualifying was obviously great, but to back it up over the course of a sprint race, that’s even more satisfying. So it feels very good, and nice to also keep a few people quiet.”

Ricciardo said every lap he could defend his position, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fifth, felt like a pat on the back.