Daniel Ricciardo’s performance in the Hungarian GP was far from satisfactory.
Daniel Ricciardo slammed an early pit call from VCARB as a “frustrating” move that ruined the driver’s race at the Hungarian Grand Prix, leaving the Australian to finish 12th, outside of the points.
After the race, Ricciardo made it clear to media that he felt he had been put on the wrong strategy by VCARB, and that he could have finished the Hungarian GP inside the points, just like his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
Daniel Ricciardo: “I’m really trying to bite my tongue…”
Daniel Ricciardo’s intense post-race radio call was overshadowed by the attention given to Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen during the chaotic Hungarian GP, causing many viewers to miss out on it.
Ricciardo, pulling into parc fermé, admitted, “I’m making an effort to hold my tongue, but you should be aware of my strong sentiments regarding the initial pit stop.”
“Roger that,” replied his race engineer Pierre Hamelin.
“If you feel the same, please…”
The VCARB team’s final decision was to review everything.
If we go back in time, we can remember the sequence of events. Ricciardo began the race using a medium-compound tire, but surprisingly, he was instructed to enter the pits for a tire change on Lap 8. This decision forced Ricciardo to struggle through heavy traffic, as the tires deteriorated rapidly.
It is understandable that Ricciardo had plenty to express regarding the decision made after the race.
Ricciardo explained to the gathered media that the reason for pitting him at the beginning was because they wanted to follow the cars with soft tires.
“They have recently entered, we have a vacant track, and we made the choice to follow closely behind them and form a DRS train, using the same type of tire – we are all using the hard compound.”
“That was… I’ve experienced numerous races, some of which were quite frustrating, but that one ranks among the most exasperating.”
“We had the speed, and essentially, we handed Yuki the victory that was within our reach, something both of us were capable of achieving.”
“And we didn’t.”
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When asked if he had any doubts about the decision made from the pit box, Ricciardo responded by saying that he simply did not have enough time to question it.
He clarified, “The call to pit is coming in late – box, box, box. However, the moment I start entering the pits, doubts start creeping in.”
“But, as you know, when you’re called in Turn 13, you must react.”
“We discuss strategies and all, but at the beginning, two cars overtook us using a softer tire. That’s alright. We allowed them to gain the lead. They eventually pit, and we decide to follow their strategy.”
“We could have enjoyed clean air and, if my understanding is correct, given Yuki the opportunity to race. So, yeah. I’m not sure.”
To make matters worse, on top of everything, Ricciardo strongly believed that the team was entirely responsible for the unfortunate decision that resulted in them losing out on valuable points. Surprisingly, he didn’t receive an apology from them.
He confessed, “To be honest, I had higher expectations.”
While I was completing the final lap, I anticipated an apology along the lines of, “Apologies, we made a mistake,” but it never came. Consequently, this only fueled my anger further.
Ricciardo made it clear to the media on multiple occasions that he couldn’t comprehend VCARB’s decision to pit early instead of utilizing the medium tires. Additionally, he expressed his frustration with being urged to keep fighting despite being at a disadvantage with his older tires.
Riccardo stated, “Stroll is gaining on me by at least a second per lap, and possibly even more. They’re emphasizing the significance of ensuring he remains behind.”
“What is it that you expect me to do? You’ve forced me into the race at such an early stage, leaving me with worn-out tires.”
“It feels frustrating because I’m expected to continue fighting even though the conflict has already ended.”
At certain moments, it seemed as if the bed had magically been made.
Although finishing in 12th place is not catastrophic, it is undoubtedly a disappointing outcome for a team and driver who are determined to earn every available point. Currently, Ricciardo holds the 13th position in the Drivers’ Championship with 11 points, trailing behind Tsunoda. However, VCARB’s sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship is now at risk as Haas poses a threat.
Ricciardo pondered, searching for a silver lining regarding his race, stating, “I’m not sure if our strategy enabled Yuki to earn points, but as far as I know, we both had the potential to accomplish it. Throughout the entire weekend, we displayed impressive speed and performance.”
I don’t believe I am overlooking anything, unless there is something I am not aware of.
“I suppose I will be informed about it within the next hour.”
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