In what was a hectic inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo managed to take advantage of incidents around him to improve from what was a disappointing P11 start to an impressive P5 finish. Ricciardo admits that while the red flag periods allowed him to make gains during the restarts, he believes a green flag race would have better suited the team's strategy.

The Aussie admits he struggled with his medium tyres towards the end of his stint saying and as a result deemed the race tiring despite enjoying his hard-fought battles with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.

“I’m happy with the top five for sure! I think from where we were it was a good result.

“In a way the red flag helped because my starts were good and I was able to move kinda move forward on the starts, but what it meant was that I couldn't really use the hard again cause I used it on the first start so it was a little too used to put on for the starts.

“I don’t know, I think if it was a green flag race from start to finish, I think my strategy would have maybe given me a better chance to get [Esteban] Ocon. At best we could have been fourth today but I certainly am happy with fifth.”

Ricciardo continued to discuss his tiredness following the Grand Prix which featured three separate standing starts, despite the enjoyment he gets from the starts which he deems his “favourite part”.

“It’s tough, all these restarts.” He said. “I dunno, I like them because the starts are good and it’s like my favourite part of the race but I think because the race is so late at night as well - I dunno I just want a pillow right now.

“The last five to eight laps I was struggling a bit with the medium, let's say I was hanging on a little more for those last few so that made it a little more tiring as well but I’m happy after yesterday.

“I tried a few times [to hold off Valtteri Bottas] and then he got me, I repassed him. I don’t know if they showed my onboard but anyway, it was fun, we had a little cat-and-mouse, it was good!”