Circuit of The Americas chairman Bobby Epstein says he would be able to ensure Daniel Ricciardo still has a meaningful presence at the upcoming United States Grand Prix despite having lost his race seat. Red Bull opted to replace Ricciardo with Liam …
Circuit of The Americas chairman Bobby Epstein says he would be able to ensure Daniel Ricciardo still has a meaningful presence at the upcoming United States Grand Prix despite having lost his race seat.
Red Bull opted to replace Ricciardo with Liam Lawson at RB for the rest of this season, effectively signaling the end of Ricciardo’s racing career in Formula 1. With COTA the next race on the calendar in late October, Epstein says Ricciardo’s popularity in North America — and specifically at the Texas event — ensures he would still be a big draw for fans simply by his presence at COTA even if he isn’t driving.
“Daniel, he may be able to have just as big of an impact out of the car as he has in it at our at our grand prix,” Epstein said. “I’m not sure that necessarily people are buying tickets to come see him race if he’s not in a competitive car, right? So if you’re coming because he’s part of the the F1 community, I think he can still be part of the F1 community in a pretty meaningful way.
“He’s really, really loved in Texas, and I think he likes it here. And so I would hope that he makes himself available more to the fans than he would otherwise be if he had an obligation in the car … I hope he’s still coming here, because we got a lot of people that would love to shake his hand or get his autograph or take a picture. Just see him around town. We’ll keep him busy.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
Red Bull has informed Ricciardo that it would like him to remain involved with the team in an ambassadorial role, but as of yet there is no agreement about such a partnership.
Ticket sales for the grand prix at COTA started slower than in recent years but have been strengthened by the unfolding championship battle as Max Verstappen has failed to win in eight races, and Epstein doesn’t believe the addition of a third U.S. race in Las Vegas particularly hurt sales given the focus it has brought to the sport.
“It is probably a wash… in terms of our tenants, it brings some more attention to the sport, and then it competes for ticket sales to some extent, but not so much, because they’re so uniquely different events and with the timing of that race, it’s tough.
“I like it [Vegas GP], because it’s a spectacle. I think it builds the sport globally. Whether it builds it as much in the U.S. as Miami… I think Miami does more for building the U.S. audience because of the time that it’s on, but I love the spectacle of the Vegas race, and I hope more people watch it. I’d love for them to rebroadcast it in the middle of the afternoon.”
Daniel Ricciardo says he’s unsure if racing in another series would bring him the fulfillment he craves that was lacking without being able to fight for top results in Formula 1. Red Bull announced on Thursday that it has dropped Ricciardo in favor …
Daniel Ricciardo says he’s unsure if racing in another series would bring him the fulfillment he craves that was lacking without being able to fight for top results in Formula 1.
Red Bull announced on Thursday that it has dropped Ricciardo in favor of Liam Lawson for the remainder of the 2024 season, with no suggestion the Australian could be in the frame for a place on the F1 grid in 2025. Speaking before his future was officially confirmed, Ricciardo admitted he has considered other racing categories in the past and could be interested with the F1 door closed, although he has nothing specific in mind.
“IndyCar still scares me!” Ricciardo said. “I mean, I’ve thought about it because I also thought about it a couple of years ago when I knew that I wasn’t going to start the ’23 season. I don’t know. I know I’m still a competitor. I know I still have a lot of fire in me. Maybe that itch is scratched doing something else, I don’t know. We’ll see.
“It’s hard. Even talking about being in the sport [F1] and fighting for even a 10th place every now and then… It’s maybe the same with doing another series, and no disrespect to other series — I’m a fan of NASCAR and a lot of other forms of motorsport — but because I’ve been there and experienced the highest of highs, will I get true fulfillment doing something else?
“No guarantee I’ll be awesome doing something else. Is that actually going to scratch the itch and give me what I want? I don’t know. I’d probably say more no than yes.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
However, while Ricciardo will be weighing up his interest in racing in other categories now that his future has been confirmed, he says his brief spell away from full-time F1 after leaving McLaren means he has no fear of a life outside the sport.
“Oh, outside racing, yeah [there’s fulfilling interests]. Because I’ve already experienced a bit of it, I don’t have a fear of not swiping into the paddock. I’ve loved it and it is great, but I’ve also fortunately made friends with other athletes over the years that have been in a similar position. What does kind of phase two of life look like?
“I think there’s a lot to do, a lot of opportunities. It’s not anything I’m scared of.”
It’s official, Daniel Ricciardo is out of a drive in Formula 1, effective immediately. A year ago, he was trying to get back as quickly as possible from a broken hand, aiming to earn himself a spot at Red Bull at some stage in future. The form …
It’s official, Daniel Ricciardo is out of a drive in Formula 1, effective immediately.
A year ago, he was trying to get back as quickly as possible from a broken hand, aiming to earn himself a spot at Red Bull at some stage in future. The form Sergio Perez has shown for the majority of this season certainly opened the door for Ricciardo to walk though, but he couldn’t take that opportunity.
Four point-scoring finishes, only three of them in grands prix, and being comfortably outscored — and regularly outqualified — by teammate Yuki Tsunoda meant he did not make a compelling enough case to be promoted in Perez’s place during the summer break.
And as soon as he failed to do that, the writing was on the wall.
Liam Lawson had made himself impossible to ignore with his performances at late notice as Ricciardo’s substitute last year, and Tsunoda was doing the job in the early part of this. The consistency and spark just never quite returned for Ricciardo, and it is totally understandable that Red Bull decided it was time to see if Lawson could be a future driver for the main team. But less understandable is the way it went about it.
As a veteran of 257 race starts, eight victories (seven of them with Red Bull) and 32 podiums, Ricciardo has got the pedigree that shows why he was being given a chance to earn another shot in race-winning machinery. The fact he also took on a reserve role at Red Bull, and was willing to try and prove himself in the RB, displays what that environment meant to him.
Ricciardo’s care-free style, in evidence here after his win in the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix. was perfect for Red Bull and helped make him a star. Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
But over the course of four days in Singapore, his demeanor went from saying he was expecting a decision on 2025 and to see out the rest of this season, to fearing he’d raced an F1 car for the last time.
“The decision I expect is for next year,” Ricciardo said a week ago. “Obviously crazy things have happened in this sport. I’m also not going to stand here too boastful and confident and ‘oh yeah yeah.’ Like, I believe I will be [racing at the U.S. Grand Prix], but let’s obviously see.”
By Sunday night, an emotional Ricciardo all but confirmed he was out.
“I tried to obviously enjoy it,” he said after getting out of the car. “A little bit like the end of ’22 at McLaren — obviously I was aware maybe that was my last race, so I tried to enjoy that.
“I think I acknowledged also why I came back into the sport — sometimes you see the big picture and I always said I don’t want to be a guy who’s just here on the grid and fighting for a point every now and then, which has kinda been how this year’s gone.
“Obviously this year the purpose was to try and do good enough to get back into Red Bull and fight for wins again, see if I’ve still got it. I felt like I came up short with that, so I think it’s then, ‘OK, what else am I fighting for here? What else is going to give me fulfillment?’
“I’ve been a young driver as well and at some point I don’t just want to take up space, also. Obviously you have to be selfish, but for me if I’m not able to fight at the front with Red Bull I have to ask myself, what am I staying on the grid for? That’s something I’ve also come to peace with.”
But what was so strange was that Red Bull and RB had not confirmed Ricciardo’s departure at that stage, and he had clearly only become aware of how likely it was as the weekend evolved. There was no ability to plan anything, to say goodbye properly, and have a race when he and everyone else knew for certain that he was getting behind the wheel for the last time.
Ricciardo deserved better than that.
The Red Bull exit in 2018 might always haunt him, but Ricciardo’s subsequent spell at Renault was still strong. It’s his results since leaving Renault, however, that make it very tough to argue that he deserves his place on the grid over someone like Lawson any longer.
And replacing him mid-season is also understandable. If you’ve got the replacement ready and waiting, under contract and available, and you’re going to put them in next season anyway, why not get started?
But Ricciardo deserved a proper send-off. A chance to enjoy the moment fully at the end of an impressive career. He’s a driver who has done so much for the popularity of the sport and Red Bull within it, and at his best he was electrifying. So, the least he should have received was the ability to make an announcement before his final race and step out of the cockpit for the last time with clarity.
Even amid his 2024 struggles, Ricciardo remained a fan favorite, making the manner of his exit frustrating both for those fans, Ricciardo himself and, ultimately, his successor. Andy Hone/Motorsport Images
There’s a knock-on impact on Lawson, too, who hasn’t been able to enjoy the promotion in the same way. Rumors flying around that led to criticism of Red Bull — and fans upset at the prospect of losing one of the most popular drivers on the grid — eventually added up to a lack of space to actually celebrate the promotion of another exciting young talent, presumably because it might seem tasteless against that backdrop.
If this is indeed the end of the F1 road for Ricciardo, he should have been able to retire at the very least slightly on his own terms. Instead, it came down to a short Instagram message:
“I’ve loved this sport my whole life. It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey.
“To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you. To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me, haha, thank you. It’ll always have its highs and lows but it’s been fun and truth be told I wouldn’t change it.
“Until the next adventure.”
What that next adventure is remains to be seen, but it’s a real shame the last race went down without so many of his fans really knowing it.
RB has confirmed Liam Lawson will race for the team for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season in place of Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo’s future was the center of speculation at the Singapore Grand Prix and the Australian ended the weekend …
RB has confirmed Liam Lawson will race for the team for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season in place of Daniel Ricciardo.
Ricciardo’s future was the center of speculation at the Singapore Grand Prix and the Australian ended the weekend admitting there was a chance he had raced for the final time Formula 1. A Red Bull review of its driver line-up has now resulted in Lawson (pictured at right, above, with Ricciardo) being promoted back into a race seat starting with the next race — the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.
Lawson impressed team management during his five-race stint in place of the injured Ricciardo last year. He finished ninth in Singapore last season to score two points while standing in for Ricciardo, but the Australian returned at COTA to see out the year. He started this season trying to earn himself another chance at Red Bull Racing, but despite considering a change, the senior team opted to stick with Sergio Perez in the summer break.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
Ricciardo’s 2024 has seen him score a best result of eighth place in the Canadian Grand Prix, although he finished an impressive fourth in the Sprint in Miami as one of four point-scoring finishes. He has been outscored by 22 points to 12 by teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who is already confirmed at RB for next season.
“Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us,” RB team principal Laurent Mekies said. “He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit. Daniel has been a true gentleman both on and off the track and never without that smile. He will be missed, but will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome Liam. He already knows the team well. He drove for us last season, and coped well under difficult circumstances, so it’ll be a natural transition. It’s great to see young talent from within the Red Bull family make the next step. We’re looking forward to getting our heads down and focusing on the rest of the season together.”
At this stage, RB has only confirmed Lawson for the remainder of this season, with the seat alongside Tsunoda in 2025 not yet officially announced. Despite the show of faith in August, questions remain over Perez’s long-term future at Red Bull, after a run of 41 points in the past 12 races. While the Red Bull has become a less competitive car, teammate Max Verstappen has scored 195 points in the same spell.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Daniel Ricciardo taking the fastest lap point away from Lando Norris at the Singapore Grand Prix was not a dirty play. Norris dominated the race in Singapore and had the fastest lap to his name when RB opted …
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Daniel Ricciardo taking the fastest lap point away from Lando Norris at the Singapore Grand Prix was not a dirty play.
Norris dominated the race in Singapore and had the fastest lap to his name when RB opted to pit Ricciardo for a third time to fit a new set of soft tires. Having already been last on the road, Ricciardo then set the fastest lap while Norris was on his final lap, ensuring Norris did not get the extra point that comes with setting the fastest lap as long as you finish inside the top ten.
McLaren team principal Zak Brown has said he will ask questions of the process behind the decision from RB given Red Bull’s ownership of the team, but Wolff downplayed any potential controversy.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
“I think you’re going to probably play all strategies that you have,” Wolff said. “I don’t think it was a dirty play, not at all. It could come down to a point, [but] it was within the regulations. The drivers weren’t unfair with each other. I think it’s just an extra point. No big deal.”
Wolff also had his own matters to deal with as Mercedes faded from starting with both cars on the second row to finish a distant fourth and sixth with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton respectively.
“It was a really painful, painful evening. It’s not about when you look at the positions, fourth and sixth – that’s not good, especially when you’re starting second and third. The car is just… we struggle at the moment with tracks that are hot and tough on traction.
“It was here, it was in Baku, but this is no excuse. I think it’s just at the moment not what we expect from ourselves. Because if your quickest car is a minute behind the leader then it’s just difficult to accept.”
Wolff wouldn’t let the unusual strategy of starting Hamilton on the soft tire from third place cloud the wider disappointment in Mercedes’ pace in Singapore.
“I think we’ve read the race wrong. We took a decision based on historic Singapore races where it’s basically a procession like Monaco, and that the soft tire would give him an opportunity at the start as pretty much the only overtaking opportunity. And that was the wrong decision that we all took together jointly.
“It felt like a good offset, but with the rear tire degradation that we had, there was just one way, and that was backwards. So I think there was a logic behind it, but obviously it was contrary to what we should have decided.
“But it doesn’t hide away from the fact that when a car is too slow, you’re too slow. Maybe you’re a position ahead or behind, but that doesn’t change anything.”
RB team principal Laurent Mekies believes Red Bull’s openness about when it will review its driver performances could lead to too much pressure during a race weekend. Daniel Ricciardo’s future was the subject of intense scrutiny during the Singapore …
RB team principal Laurent Mekies believes Red Bull’s openness about when it will review its driver performances could lead to too much pressure during a race weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo’s future was the subject of intense scrutiny during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, with the Australian’s demeanor evolving from expecting a decision on 2025 to believing he had likely driven his final race in Formula 1 by Sunday night. Part of the reason for the focus was Red Bull confirming it would review the performances of its drivers in both teams after Singapore – something it has also done earlier in the year – but Mekies sees a potential downside to that approach.
“There is nothing wrong with reviewing your drivers’ performance every few races, and I think we have perhaps been too public about it,” Mekies told SiriusXM. “We have done it in the first part of the season, we have done it quite famously just before the summer break, I guess at some stage we have said we will see after Singapore as well to discuss!
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
“So it’s part of the game. Certainly sometimes you can see it’s probably going a bit too far in terms of pressure, above all for Daniel in that case.
“I think the first thought is for Daniel, because he has had a lot of that this season. Some reasons it’s been quiet, some races it’s been very difficult, this is for sure one of the very difficult races. Of course, these guys are high level athletes and they know how to deal with it but sometimes it’s a bit unnecessary.”
Speaking before Ricciardo finished 18th with the fastest lap in Singapore, Mekies says the focus can also place a lot of attention on a driver that can have an impact on results when there margins are so small within the midfield.
“If you look at the global picture, for sure as much as we would like to think it’s not a distraction, it’s always taking a little bit of energy out of you. And when everything is so tight, and Daniel was super-fast this weekend all the way through, he didn’t get an ideal [qualifying] session with the soft, and when everything matters a tenth here and a tenth there, for sure we cannot forget about the particularly difficult context he had this weekend.”
Daniel Ricciardo says it’s realistic to expect he won’t be racing in Formula 1 again after the Singapore Grand Prix, and that he is at peace with losing his RB seat if it happens. Red Bull opted to stick with Sergio Perez when reviewing its driver …
Daniel Ricciardo says it’s realistic to expect he won’t be racing in Formula 1 again after the Singapore Grand Prix, and that he is at peace with losing his RB seat if it happens.
Red Bull opted to stick with Sergio Perez when reviewing its driver line-up at the start of August, leaving Ricciardo at RB but with Liam Lawson waiting for a potential race seat. While Yuki Tsunoda is confirmed for 2025, Ricciardo was expecting an answer on next year following the race in Singapore, but with sources suggesting he could be replaced before the next round — the U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas — he admits he has accepted that is likely to be the case.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
“Look, obviously there is a realistic chance [racing in Austin] is not going to happen,” Ricciardo said. “I think obviously it’s been a very race by race situation with Red Bull, I think for all of us in a way, obviously Checo as well, and at times it feels like it’s going one way, then it goes the other.
“Obviously there was a lot of emphasis on this weekend. I would have loved a better weekend and who knows if that would have changed anything or if the decision’s been made already prior to the weekend. I’m obviously prepared for it — that’s why over the weekend I tried to acknowledge a few things as well with myself.
“I think acknowledge also why I came back into the sport. Sometimes you see the big picture and I always said I don’t want to be a guy who’s just here on the grid and fighting for a point every now and then, which has kinda been how this year’s gone.
“Obviously this year the purpose was to try and do good enough to get back into Red Bull and fight for wins again, see if I’ve still got it. I felt like I came up short with that, so I think it’s then, ‘OK, what else am I fighting for here? What else is going to give me fulfillment?’
“I’ve been a young driver as well and at some point I don’t just want to take up space. Obviously you have to be selfish, but for me if I’m not able to fight at the front with Red Bull, I have to ask myself what am I staying on the grid for? That’s something I’ve also come to peace with.”
If this was Ricciardo’s last race, he went out with his name on the highlight list with fastest lap. Lionel Ng/Motorsport Images
Should it be Ricciardo’s final race in F1, he signed off with a fastest lap after pitting for soft tires from the back of the field and taking the extra point off winner Lando Norris. That ensured Max Verstappen’s championship lead is one point bigger than it would have been, and Ricciardo says he was aware that could be a factor in the decision.
“I had an idea but I also thought they were just letting me have some fun because we were a long way out of the points. We tried softs, trying to be a bit more aggressive at the start and knew it’d be a bit of a tricky place to overtake. So we never know what happens on lap 1.
“Our starts haven’t been great this year and we’re on the dirty side so we thought, OK, if we put a hard on we’re probably going to go backwards, so let’s put a soft on and see where it takes us and if it doesn’t do much for us we can try and pit early and maybe undercut a few cars.
“Look, at the end of the day we weren’t quick enough. I don’t know the full picture of Yuki [Tsunoda]’s race but also saw he was out of the points; maybe that’s also some confirmation that we didn’t quite have it today. So, at the end, fastest lap, kinda hoping Max wins by a point now as I’ve guaranteed myself a very nice Christmas present. So, sorry Lando!”
Daniel Ricciardo says he expects to see out this season but is awaiting a decision on whether he will have a race seat in 2025 after this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. Red Bull has yet to make a decision on the second RB seat alongside Yuki …
Daniel Ricciardo says he expects to see out this season but is awaiting a decision on whether he will have a race seat in 2025 after this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Red Bull has yet to make a decision on the second RB seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda for next year, with Ricciardo coming to the end of his first full season back with the team but facing competition from Liam Lawson. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has previously suggested there would be clarity after Singapore but while recent speculation has linked Lawson with Ricciardo’s seat as early as the next race at Circuit of The Americas, the Australian says he has no knowledge of an imminent change.
“Let’s say my first expectation is about next year,” Ricciardo said. “So that’s where I’m at at the moment. I can’t give too many details, in terms of contracts — our dates pretty much come into this window now. Basically, I do expect a yes or a no for ’25.
“Obviously, I’m aware of some talk and speculation about the rest of the season. But that for me at the moment, I’m unaware of. The decision I expect is for next year. Obviously, crazy things have happened in this sport. I’m also not going to stand here too boastful and confident. Like, I believe I will be [back], but let’s obviously see.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
While wary of discussing contractual information, Ricciardo says he doesn’t see a situation in his current deal that would allow him to be replaced after Singapore.
“I don’t think so, but, I also don’t want to stand here and be the lawyer. Look, I would say no, but also, we know how this sport works. People have not seen through a season before. It’s nothing new in some ways. So I don’t want to also be, ‘Oh, 100%, I’ll bet all my house on it.’ I’ve been around too long.”
Ricciardo says nothing has changed since he was told he would not be replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull back in August, and that he’s tried to make sure he doesn’t get too involved with rumors if he hasn’t had any direct feedback from the team.
“I think, all this stuff, what’s crazy about the sport is — and this is me just now just talking a bit of s**t — but I go and get a podium this weekend, and I’m probably the hottest thing in the sport! So that’s the merry-go-round we’re on. I know it can change quickly. I’m aware that things are hotting up so to speak, but I just have to try and get my head down this weekend and kick some ass!
“I think as early as probably Japan or Miami, there was, ‘Am I even going to rock up to the next race?’ I didn’t hear that from the team. But obviously there’s noise about that. You hear that one week, and then I put two good races together and Checo doesn’t, and I’m ‘Oh, am I going to be in the Red Bull in the summer break?’
“So I think the main thing is try not to get too high, try not to get too low. At the end of the day, focus on myself. That’s where I probably learned as well from the past, not to get bogged down in too much other stuff, because that will always be there, that will always exist.
“Control the controllables. And that’s me putting my best foot forward and making sure I’m loving what I’m doing. As much as the year has had some highs and lows, and even now, standing here today there’s a lot of pressure and speculation, I still am happy to be here. I still can’t wait to be in the car tomorrow. I can’t wait to sweat my t**s off. And then we’ll see what happens.”
RB technical director Jody Egginton says the team will bring minor updates to the Dutch Grand Prix to try and continue its points run following the summer break. A scoreless first two races of the season has been followed by a run of points from all …
RB technical director Jody Egginton says the team will bring minor updates to the Dutch Grand Prix to try and continue its points run following the summer break.
A scoreless first two races of the season has been followed by a run of points from all but two of the rounds for RB since, including four straight top tens leading into August. From that run, however, only in Hungary did it lead the pack behind the top four teams, with Aston Martin, Haas, Alpine and Williams all having outscored RB in the other races, and Egginton says upgrades are required due to how competitive the field is.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
“Zandvoort presents some different challenges, but we have a solid baseline to take in this race, which, combined with a couple of further minor updates, should allow us to continue to fight towards the front,” Egginton said. “The circuit is a testing ‘Old School’ circuit ranking amongst the shorter circuits on the calendar with 14 corners of various types, combined with short straights with various cambers and many gravel traps, which will punish even the smallest of errors.
“Achieving a good qualifying is very important here. With regards to the race, as it has been the case for the majority of races this season, we expect a tough fight with our closest competitors for points and we are looking forward to the battle in what is going to be a very intense second half of the season.”
Zandvoort marks a year since Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand in a crash during practice, ruling him out for five races last season, but he says the track was actually suiting him at the time and he hopes to be able to replicate that feeling on his return.
“It’s been a great summer break,” Ricciardo said. “I got back to Australia to see some friends and family, so I’m feeling recharged, fit and healthy.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Zandvoort. Obviously last year it’s where my year turned upside down, but until the accident with Oscar [Piastri], I was really enjoying the circuit, the car was great around there. I’m confident we can continue where we left off before the break, our momentum was strong and we’re definitely in the fight for some points.”
Ricciardo has scored points in three of his last six races, but faces an uncertain future at this stage after Red Bull opted to stick with Sergio Perez beyond the summer break, with Liam Lawson understood to be a contender for a full-time RB seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda in 2025.
Daniel Ricciardo says he was angered by the strategy RB put him on in the Hungarian Grand Prix and then a lack of apology that followed the checkered flag. RB started last Sunday’s race with both cars in the top 10, Ricciardo ninth ahead of teammate …
Daniel Ricciardo says he was angered by the strategy RB put him on in the Hungarian Grand Prix and then a lack of apology that followed the checkered flag.
RB started last Sunday’s race with both cars in the top 10, Ricciardo ninth ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Both drivers started on medium tires and were jumped by Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen off the line, but Ricciardo was called into the pits on lap 7 — one lap after Albon and Magnussen — to fit hard tires and emerged behind both once again, limiting him to 12th at the finish.
“You don’t want to pull into the pits,” Ricciardo (pictured above with team principal Laurent Mekies) said of the early pit stop. “You get the call and you know that this isn’t the thing to do, but you get the call late and there’s no time to question it. Because then if you miss a lap then it’s even worse.
“But as soon as I pulled in, the cars on softs had pulled in, we’re on a medium, let’s go. Let’s use our clear air, use the pace we’ve got, and then we come out in traffic and it’s just DRS train, and for what? We’re all then on the same tire… That was one of the worst ones that I’ve had in 250-something races — that was a long old frustrating race where I just had a lot of anger.
“We talk about strategies and that… but two cars jumped us at the start with a soft tire. That’s fine, let them go. They pit and we follow them. To then just be on their strategy… We would have had clear air and a chance to [score], I think, from what I understand of Yuki’s race.
“Honestly, I was expecting more. On the in-lap I was waiting for, ‘Sorry. We f****d up.’ And I didn’t get it. So, that made me even more angry.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
Tsunoda did not make his first pit stop for another 22 laps, going on to finish ninth on a one-stop strategy. Ricciardo says the timing of the result was particularly painful, having highlighted the importance of the two races before the summer break for his future.
“That’s the thing — I feel like we’ve taken ourselves out of the race so early and then we’re expected to fight a car that’s coming a second a lap quicker on newer tires and it’s, ‘What do you want me to do?’
“We just made it so difficult for ourselves when we had pace and we could have just stayed out in clear air, stayed calm and do what we’d done all weekend. We did a race but we didn’t do a race, if you know what I mean. We were just driving around.”
