Red Bull's Christian Horner says Daniel Ricciardo's qualifying performance at the Chinese Grand Prix, which saw him earn an unexpected place on the front row, was "incredible".
Qualifying looked to be a straight shootout between Mercedes and Ferrari in China until the final runs in Q3, when seemingly out of nowhere Ricciardo hooked a lap together to go second. Ferrari pair Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel both failed to beat the Australian's lap time on their final attempts, leaving Red Bull in an unexpected position going into Sunday's race.
"Were on earth did that come from?" Horner said after the race. "I'm quite shocked actually. To qualify on the front row here is quite an incredible performance. He just got quicker and quicker, and just put everything together. The wind picked up at the last part of qualifying there, and he just nailed it.
"Rosberg's picked a different tyre strategy, but we're in the race from there. We know we're vulnerable, but we've got to see the start lights for the first time in a while front the front row -- and we'll be giving it everything."
While returning to parc ferme, Ricciardo joked to Red Bull over the radio: "I've got pretty deep pockets!"
The Australian admits he was as surprised as his team to see where he ended up.
Asked where his super lap came from, he said: "Not sure! Second is pretty awesome, we didn't expect this. I think today is encouraging. If we can have this on one lap we should be pretty good. Hopefully we have got a race with Ferrari. If we can battle with podium that will be awesome.
"I got a front row here a couple of years ago but that was in wet, so to get a front row in dry condition is awesome and testament to how far we have come since the end of 2015. It feels good to be back up here. I know it is only qualifying but I am really happy."