Ricciardo and Verstappen exchanged "friendly middle-fingers" after qualifying

Daniel Ricciardo jokingly shared "a friendly middle-finger" with Max Verstappen after the former Red Bull team-mates locked out the second row of the grid at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Rarely have Renault driver Ricciardo and Verstappen been in direct competition this season, but the two will line up next to each other on the Spa-Francorchamps grid on Sunday.

Facing the media after qualifying, Ricciardo related an exchange between the duo in the immediate aftermath of the qualifying session.

"It was quite funny actually," laughed Ricciardo. "I got out of the car in parc fermé and I looked over in his direction.

"He was already looking at me so I think he was waiting for my response and we both gave each other a friendly middle-finger. That was a little bit of banter I guess."

Starting from his highest grid slot since joining Renault, Ricciardo is unsure as to his prospects of fighting Verstappen on track throughout the race.

"Max and the two Mercedes have been, for the most part, in a league of their own on Sundays this year," added Ricciardo.

"So I think it would take something extra obviously to hang with him [Verstappen] tomorrow for the whole duration.

"We do have a strong first and third sector, so if we do get ahead, maybe, it is a track we could defend on.

"I think they [Red Bull] are pretty quick in the second sector but it is pretty tricky to overtake in the second sector. I will certainly try to make life difficult for him and the Mercedes guys if that was somehow in reach."

Ricciardo's previous best qualifying this year was at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone where the Australian started fifth, going on to claim fourth at the flag.

Should he achieve a similar level of progression this time around and finish on the podium in at least third, team principal Cyril Abiteboul will be the proud owner of his first tattoo.

Ricciardo explained in Spain: “This has really broken out now. That’s the bet, so anyone that hasn’t heard about that…

“It’s a bit foggy, but I do remember I believe he chooses placement and size, but I choose the design. We’ll clear that up, but it’s a tattoo and he does not have any so it’s a big deal for Cyril.”

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