Ricciardo blames hard tyres for 'killing' his race

  • Published on 02 Dec 2019 10:07
  • comments 0
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Coilin Higgins

Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo blamed his switch to hard tyres during his first pitstop as the reason why he lacked the pace to challenge for points in Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Ricciardo, going as far as saying that the switch to Pirelli's hardest compound 'killed his race' could only manage an eleventh place finish in the final race of the season.

"I don't want to be critical but I'm just going to say how it is," Ricciardo said. "Sometimes we get that in F1 but tonight was a boring night. Happy that it's over, happy to go on a break soon.

"Obviously both cars missed out on points today and personally, the hard tyre killed my race. I didn't have speed on it at all and it was one of those things as a driver, you know straight away.

"Like you know we do test five or even seven laps sometimes but you need an out-lap to know how the car is going to be and I felt it already at turn eight on the out-lap on the hard."

Ricciardo also explained how he initially tried to stay positive but eventually couldn't help but tell his team that he was suffering with pace after the pitstop.

Ricciardo made a second call to the pits for soft tyres late on in the Grand Prix but felt the added pit stop came too late to be able to make a difference

"My gut told me that this was going to be a pretty shitty stint and I didn't say it on the radio straight away," Ricciardo added. 

"I didn't want to be negative on the first laps but after a few laps, I told the boys that we aren't going anywhere. Eventually, we did a two-stop and the soft was a ton better, but it was too little too late."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
-
Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
-
Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Australia
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Perth, Australia
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar