Daniel Ricciardo ELIMINATED from qualifying as Australian rising star Oscar Piastri will start Melbourne F1 Grand Prix from sixth

Daniel Ricciardo has been eliminated from the first qualifying session at the Australian F1 Grand Prix at Albert Park for the first time in history after exceeding track limits.

The Aussie had delivered what appeared to be a clutch final lap to advance to Q2 before stewards deleted that time because they deemed Ricciardo exceeded track limits at Turn 5.

The deleted lap time would have placed Ricciardo in the top 10 and been good enough for him to advance to Q2,

Ricciardo had high hopes of finishing strongly in qualifying arriving at Albert Park today

Stewards deemed Ricciardo to have exceeded track limits at Turn 5 which eliminated him from Q2 and will see him start from the back row of the grid on Sunday

However the stewards’ call means Ricciardo will not progress to Q2 and will start on the back row of the grid based on his second-best lap time, leaving the Aussie in 18th position.

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RB team principal Laurent Mekies said: ‘It’s very difficult to swallow but that’s the way it is. Daniel was doing a very good job, probably his best lap so far and more than enough to get into Q2.

‘He was a bit wide in Turn 5 and by a few centimetres we are off track.’

Piastri had a strong showing in qualifing and will start in sixth place on the grid at the Australian F1 Grand Prix on Sunday

McLaren have high hopes that Piastri or teammate Lando Norris can podium in Melbourne

Meanwhile Australia’s rising star Oscar Piastri will start Sunday’s race from sixth after an impressive qualifying session for McLaren.

‘Exciting,’ Piastri said.

‘It’s been a good weekend so far. We’ve got some good momentum. Let’s see what we can do.’

Max Verstappen has his sights set on a third-straight win to open 2024, with the defending Formula One world champion claiming pole for the Australian Grand Prix.

The Red Bull superstar blitzed qualifying on Saturday as he aims to back up last year’s race victory at Albert Park.

Verstappen secured the 35th pole of his career, finishing in front of resurgent Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.