Daniel Ricciardo critical of RB’s strategy: « It was one of my worst races »
Racing Bulls driver Daniel Ricciardo encountered a number of problems during Sunday's race in Hungary. In his opinion, it was a botched strategy that made the Hungarian Grand Prix the worst race he had ever experienced.
As Daniel Ricciardo managed to secure 9th place in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, a pit stop cost him all his chances of finishing in the points. After just seven laps, he was the first to be called back into the pits by his team. A stop that cost him many places as he came out in 18th place.
A difficult track to master
The Hungaroring circuit is not only known for its many turns and lack of straight lines, but it is also known for its narrow track that limits overtaking during the race. The pit stop strategy in this type of Grand Prix is more important than usual. Hence the necessity for teams to calculate their strategy with precision.
Daniel Ricciardo, who had started the race on medium tires like many other drivers, made his very first pit stop after only seven laps. A strategy that did not pay off as his tires should have allowed him to go much further.
While he was 9th, he quickly dropped ten places, placing himself behind a group of cars almost impossible to overtake on a track like the Hungaroring. From this first stop, the Australian driver knew he wouldn’t be able to catch up. “The cars on soft tires came in, we’re on mediums, let’s go, let’s use our clean air, let’s use the speed we have and then we go back out into traffic and it’s just a DRS train for what, we’re all on the same tire,” the driver said in the post-race press conference.
A frustrating call
Unfortunately, as expected, Daniel Ricciardo failed to get back into the points and finished the Grand Prix in 12th position, while his teammate Yuki Tsunoda finished 9th, scoring two points in the championship.
As Ricciardo came in for the second time on the 29th lap, the Japanese driver was making his first stop. Given the situation, it seems clear that the team’s decision was not the right one. A pit stop that the Australian criticized. “It’s a late call, ‘box, box, box,’ and you have to come in,” he said on speedcafe.com’s microphone. “Honestly, as soon as I entered the pits, I questioned it, but you can’t do anything about it. You’re called in and you have to react.”
This strategy mistake comes at an important time for Daniel Ricciardo, as rumors about Sergio Pérez’s departure are becoming more and more prevalent in the paddock. Despite the performances of his teammate Yuki Tsunoda this season, the friendly relationship between Ricciardo and Christian Horner is no news to the fans.
An experience admired by the team principal who has not yet communicated about the departure of the Mexican driver. But before a potential announcement, it is time to play the final cards for the Red Bull drivers, something that Daniel Ricciardo could not do as the strategy failed.
Through the post-race press conference, he did not hesitate to share his frustration. “It was one of the worst races of my 250 and something races, a long and frustrating race,” he said. “We had a race today, but we didn’t race, if you see what I mean, we were just driving.” A decision he may not forget.
