Daniel Ricciardo has revealed he hasn’t received any sort of apology from Lance Stroll over their Chinese GP clash.
Ricciardo’s hopeful Chinese Grand Prix was cut short when the Aston Martin driver collided into the rear of his vehicle amidst preparations to resume racing after a Safety Car incident.
Daniel Ricciardo: I can accept an apology if I get one
After labeling Ricciardo as an “idiot” for the collision, Stroll’s comment provoked a furious reaction from the Australian driver. In the media area, he vehemently expressed his frustration, exclaiming, “Screw that guy!” and emphasizing the need for Stroll to accept accountability for the mistake.
Ricciardo expressed to the media in Miami that he was feeling more relaxed and positive as he approached the Sprint weekend, now that 10 days had gone by since the race-ending incident in Shanghai.
He expressed, “Being back at a racetrack again has put me in a better mood.”
Naturally, I felt extremely frustrated – any Did Not Finish (DNF) is aggravating – but that particular one, undoubtedly, proved to be even more exasperating.
“When the chequered flag is not in sight, the desire to race again intensifies, as if one longs to return to the car. That’s why I am truly delighted that it’s a Sprint weekend, as it involves two races. I am thrilled to be here!”
Regarding whether he and Stroll have had any communication following their collision, where the Aston Martin forcefully collided with the RB at the hairpin while the Safety Car was out, Ricciardo responded with a smile and a brief response: “No.”
When asked if he would like to talk to Stroll, Ricciardo expressed that it would be pointless, but he is willing to listen to the Canadian if he offers an apology.
He expressed his opinion by stating, “I would decline as I believe it will not lead to any progress.”
“If he simply sent a text saying, ‘Yeah, you know, my mistake’, or something similar, then sure, I can accept an apology.”
“I don’t consider myself a complete jerk. However, it’s evident that he doesn’t even acknowledge his wrongdoing, which leaves little room for discussion.”
Tomorrow at the driver’s briefing, if we happen to sit next to each other and he initiates a conversation, I won’t disregard him or anything.
Ricciardo attempted to empathize with Stroll by acknowledging that he may not have taken full responsibility for incidents during his early days as a driver.
He stated, “You know, in my youth, I might have been more obstinate and perhaps I didn’t always take responsibility by offering an apology when I was at fault.”
“However, just as in previous years, I will still take responsibility for my actions. Whether it’s making a mistake, causing harm to someone, or even if the situation is uncertain, I will always admit that I could have done better. I apologize for any negative impact I may have had on our day.”
“I recall a situation in Brazil in 2023, possibly involving Kevin Magnussen, or maybe in Mexico the previous year with Yuki Tsunoda. This happened when I was still with McLaren in 2022. Though I didn’t entirely believe it was entirely my fault, I felt it was necessary to reach out to him and clear the air by sending a text.”
“I personally believe that there is no need for us to view each other as rivals. It’s important to avoid singling anyone out or creating unnecessary adversaries. I’m not suggesting that he should be considered an enemy or anything of that sort.”
“It’s just an incident that we’ll move past. However, it’s clear that you don’t want to accept what you’re given. I want to clarify that I’m not specifically targeting him, but this is my approach. If there are any unresolved issues between me and someone, let’s discuss them and see how things unfold.”
I might not expect much, but if I were in that situation and didn’t see him in person, I would at least say something like, “Hey, man, sorry, I was distracted,” or “You slammed on the brakes, it surprised me.” Just anything to acknowledge the situation. But yeah, it’s all good.
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After Nico Hulkenberg overtook him, Stroll and Ricciardo resolved their collision, but Ricciardo managed to regain his position ahead of the Haas driver while the Safety Car was still in play. Unfortunately, his actions earned him a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming race.
Ricciardo expressed his belief that the circumstances could have been given more consideration, which ignited a sense of determination within him as he approached the Miami GP.
He stated, “Although I have definitely moved on, I was still frustrated by the three-place penalty, specifically that one.”
“I raised my hand in frustration, acknowledging that I should have had a better understanding of the rules. However, they seemed to perceive the situation in a very strict and uncompromising manner. Nico, on the other hand, was innocent. From my perspective, their judgment seemed biased. Consequently, I suffered the consequences.”
“We’re going to add some fire to the track this weekend.”
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