Ricciardo thought he could win in Bahrain

Daniel Ricciardo drove his Red Bull to fifth place in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, but he showed consistency throughout the race to the extent that he initially believed he had a chance to take victory.

He began the Grand Prix finding himself in fifth, behind his team-mate Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and early leader Valtteri Bottas, but after a pit stop during a Safety Car period the Australian found he could not get enough heat into his new Soft tyres - and this subsequently hurt his pace as he dropped rapidly from third to sixth.

"I genuinely thought we had a chance to win," Ricciardo explained later. "That first stint was looking really competitive. I could see that Valtteri was struggling, I believe he had some issues with the tyres or whatever. I was at the end of that train, I could see everyone else, they were sliding around. I was looking after my tyres, so we were in a really good position.

"Then the Safety Car came out, we put the Softs on and that tyre was just not happening for us today. On the restart, out of the last corner, it felt like the tyre just wasn't switched on. Basically the whole first I was sliding, so that's why I went back. Beyond that the tyre never really came good, I was on Massa's pace and we know we're quicker than that, so it was a strange chain of events from the beginning of the race."

 

Mason Hawker

Replies (2)

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  • That's strongk stuff he is smoking!

    • + 0
    • Apr 17 2017 - 15:56
  • I dont really think winning was a possibility for Red Bull today, they were simply too far behind.

    • + 0
    • Apr 17 2017 - 19:31

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,420
  • Podiums 126
  • Grand Prix 232
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
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