Ricciardo pays for costly crash in Australian GP qualifying

MELBOURNE: Home hero Daniel Ricciardo was crestfallen after a costly error led to a crash in the final frenetic stages of qualifying Saturday to push him down the grid for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Australia’s big hope was trying Q3 stage when he lost control of

rear damage when he crashed into a barrier prematurely ending his qualifying and suspending the final session while his car was cleared from the track. Red Bull’s Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo powers over the ripple strip during the qualifying session for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Saturday.

grid to continue a run of wretched luck at his home grand prix where he Aussie winner in 37 years.

He is lining up for his sixth crack at the race in Melbourne on Sunday, after placing fourth last year, his best performance yet.

second behind Mercedes driver Nico -

“I’m physically okay, but emotionally it’s tough. At least (the - ciardo told reporters.

“We made a big step forwards in Q2 but the lap in Q3 was a bit messy and then turn 13 caught me out. There was no way of catching that and saving it.

“I lost in going into Turn 14. It happened quickly, I could feel rear was starting to come around.

“I tried to catch it but it came around, and as the result of more downforce and more grip, when you lose it it’s a lot more violent and aggressive, so it caught me out.

“I would have loved to be (in

from 109 GPs, but he said earlier in the week that a win in Australia would top them all.

“If anyone could win just one race, they would always say their home (race),” he said.

Alan Jones was the last Australian to win his home grand prix in 1980, when he was also the last Australian to win the world title.