Red Bull survive engine scares to secure third row in China
The Australian suffered a massive blow-out in the final practice session in Shanghai, leaving it touch-and-go as to whether he could get out in qualifying at all.
But some nail-biting work from the Red Bull mechanics allowed Ricciardo, who retired after just two laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix last week, out in time to set one lap time - enough to see him through to Q2 and beyond.
Advertisement
Advertisement
It was line of stern at the front of the grid, with Sebastian Vettel leading Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen on the grid, ahead of the Mercedes duo of Valteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, before the two Red Bulls, led by Max Verstappen ahead of Ricciardo.