Australian GP: Daniel Ricciardo amazed Red Bull even finished
Daniel Ricciardo admitted he did not expect to finish the Australian Grand Prix, following Red Bull's poor pre-season


On his debut for Red Bull, the Australian had a relatively untroubled run to second place in his home grand prix.
While the gap to the race-winning Mercedes of Nico Rosberg was a substantial 24.5 seconds, Ricciardo said he was happy just to have made it to the end of the race, a prospect that seemed unlikely during pre-season testing.
"If I look back at where we were three weeks ago, we had never done a race distance up until today, so I didn't have much confidence to see chequered flag or see a podium position," he said.
"[The team] worked so hard over the winter and clawed back a massive margin. We still don't have the pace of Mercedes, but it is a result we will definitely take today and make a lot of progress from here.
"I'm pretty happy, it's a bit overwhelming for now."
Ricciardo added that the support from the Australian fans played its part across the weekend.
"It has been a crazy amount - the support for F1 in general, they have been behind this event. Drivers rock up at the circuit and everybody wants autographs. And it's a bit more for me being the only Aussie on the grid.
"It has been more than I could have possibly expected, and at times a bit embarrassing, but cool and very positive."
Follow all the post-race news and reaction on AUTOSPORT Live
Latest news
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix