Daniel Ricciardo sends message to F1 great after savage criticism with best drive of the season

Australian F1 star Daniel Ricciardo will start the Canadian Grand Prix in fifth place after his best qualifying performance of the season.

George Russell took an extraordinary pole position for the GP – level with Max Verstappen at 1 minute and 12,000 seconds.

It was a dramatic qualifying session with the threat of rain persisting and falling on and off. Everyone had to be on their toes – a point Russell underlined when he simply held on to his sliding car at Turn 4 during Q2.

Lando Norris will start third, an agonizing 0.021 seconds off the pace, one place ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

Daniel Ricciardo (photo) starts the Canadian Grand Prix in fifth place after his best qualifying performance of the season

Ricciardo currently drives for Visa Cash App RB and is fighting to extend his career

Commentator Matt Gallagher described Ricciardo’s drive as ‘ridiculous’, after a tough few days for the Australian.

Over the weekend, former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve questioned why Ricciardo is still in F1 and declared that his image ultimately saved his career in a savage live TV tirade.

‘Why is he still in F1? Why?’ Villeneuve was furious with Sky Sports F1.

‘We’ve been hearing the same thing for four or five years now. “We have to make the car better for him.” Sorry, it’s been five years. No, you’re in F1.

‘Maybe you make that effort for Lewis Hamilton, who has won several championships. You don’t make that effort for a driver who won’t make it.

‘If you don’t make it, go home, there is someone else who can take your place. That’s how it’s always been in racing, it’s the pinnacle of the sport.

‘There’s no reason to keep going and keep making excuses, and you’re all talking about that first season or the first two seasons, he beat a Vettel who was burned out, who was trying to figure things out with the car to go and win and just making a mess of his weekends.

‘Then he beat Verstappen for half a season when Verstappen was 18 years old, just starting out, that was it, then he stopped beating anyone.’

Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has questioned why Daniel Ricciardo is still in F1

The commentary team suggested that Ricciardo should thank Villeneuve for the motivation he has given him.

“Daniel Ricciardo should pay Jacques Villeneuve a bonus for the motivation he gave him this weekend,” Sky’s David Croft said.

“That is by far the best qualifying day of the season for Daniel Ricciardo so far.”

The Australian driver was enthusiastic after the session and could hear his celebrations over the team radio.

“F**k yes,” he said.