Angry Ricciardo slams stewards for grid penalty
MELBOURNE: A frustrated Daniel Ricciardo condemned Formula One stewards at the Australian Grand Prix after the Red Bull driver was handed a three-place grid penalty for his home race on Sunday.
The Western Australian was sanctioned for driving too fast under red flag conditions during Friday’s second free practice.
Stewards said in a statement they had imposed a “lesser penalty than usual” because Ricciardo had driven with “due care” and there was “no danger”.
Ricciardo, who was tipped to be a contender at Albert Park, said he had been potentially “robbed” of a front row start.
“I think I can agree with everyone, there’s other penalties they could have used,” the 28year-old told reporters before the final practice on Saturday.
“To give me a grid penalty before the season has even started is s**thouse. I slowed down, I knew there was a red flag, I didn’t go slow enough.
“It was just an honest mistake but should that really rob me of a front row start? They could give me a reprimand, they could give me a fine, I don’t care, just don’t rob me of a front-row start.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had no issue with the decision but said he had never seen Ricciardo so enraged.
“I don’t think (the stewards) wanted to give him the penalty but they had to,” the Briton said. “You could see from the wording of the statement that they tried to water it down as best they could.
“It’s just so unfortunate for Daniel, home driver, home race. I’ve never seen him as angry as he was last night.”
Ricciardo, who has won five races for Red Bull, has had a bitter record at Albert Park, where no Australian racer has won.
In 2014, he finished second behind Mercedes winner Nico Rosberg but was later disqualified due to a technical infringement that was no fault of his own.
Last year, he crashed during qualifying, had to start the race from pit-lane due to a reliability problem and ended up retiring midway. — Reuters