Ricciardo didn't get 100% out of Renault in Australia F1 qualifying

Ricciardo will start his home race from 12th after missing out on the final part of qualifying by 0.032 seconds.

The Australian, who was marginally slower than team-mate Nico Hulkenberg and will share the sixth row of the grid with the German, said the result was frustrating but "not that painful".

"Half a tenth would've made it much more pleasurable, being into Q3, that was really the target," Ricciardo said.

"Half a tenth, you can find that in a driver so I blame myself before I blame the car.

"It got stacked up into the last corner [at the end of Q2] and there was a bit of jostling for track position, and everyone was just going slow, I just felt the tyres were a bit cold.

"Opening the lap I didn't really have that much confidence getting into Turn 1, and so I lost the time there, but in hindsight I think the grip was there to go quicker.

"That's where I lost it.

"Obviously it's always painful when you know you haven't really got 100% out of it, but it's all good.

"Even though it was not the result I wanted, I was actually more impressed with the confidence I could drive the car with today."

Hulkenberg was hampered by an "electric power unit-related" issue in the dying moments of Q2, which cost him the chance to progress to the pole position shootout.

Both drivers believe they can extract more from the car in the race.

"The car felt good yesterday on the long runs," said Hulkenberg. "The pace looked more than alright.

"I think we have all the chances for a strong race and points."

Ricciardo added: "I definitely believe we can be in the points. Hopefully plural.

"Better than 10th - I think we've got the car for it.

"Would've, could've, should've, but if we got into Q3 I think we had the car good enough to be P8 today. That's what we'll try and target tomorrow."

Ricciardo said he was thrilled to be part of an ultra-close midfield battle, even if the Haas cars - which qualified sixth and seventh - appear to have an edge on their immediate rivals.

"I'm frustrated because I'm not at the front of that battle but I am excited that it is close," he said.

"If you're not getting everything out of it in this midfield, I think it's going to be costly, and I felt that today.

"It's just more fuel, fuel for the fire.

"By the looks of it, Haas is that midfield car to beat.

"If we made Q3, I think getting them, we probably would've come up a little bit short as well so I would say they have a bit more raw pace for now - but also, this can be track-specific."