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Ricciardo confused over lack of qualifying pace

Published on 15 Sep 2018 17:49
5
By: Fergal Walsh

Daniel Ricciardo was left confused following qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, after setting the sixth fastest time. Ricciardo appeared to be in the fight during the first and second qualifying sessions, even setting the quickest time in Q1.

However, he couldn't keep up his pace in the final stage, while teammate Max Verstappen went on the qualify on the front row. The Australian was left disappointed with his performance but can't explain his drop off in pace, stating that a minor engine problem wasn't the cause.

"To be honest, we had a little bit [of engine issues] but it wasn’t the reason why we dropped so much pace in qualifying. Right now I honestly don’t have an answer,” Ricciardo admitted.

“We were there, we made changes after P3 this morning. As a driver you know immediately if a change works and in Q1 it felt like it was there and we were like: ‘Sweet, we are going to be in this thing.’ It seemed like everyone else could run with it, through Q2, Q3, find a second if not more and we just stayed as a stalemate. I don’t know why we were the only ones who couldn’t find the time right now.”

Ricciardo said on Friday evening that Red Bull had the fastest race pace out of the top three teams. However, as he is starting behind both Ferraris, Mercedes and his teammate, the 29-year-old is not so optimistic for the race.

"Right now, I am struggling to let qualifying go. It’s still too soon,” Ricciardo said. “Even with good pace here, it’s so tricky to overtake. We will try and do something.

“All we can hope for if the cars in front, their tyres fall away and they’re forced then to do a two-stop. Otherwise, if everyone does a one-stop, hope for someone to run on the track like they did in 2015 I guess,” he added.

F1 News Max Verstappen Daniel Ricciardo Mercedes

Replies (5)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Engine issues again... I found the 3 pu allocation stupid as it was, and the fact that they retain it when Renault and Honda are where they are really put the final nail in the coffin for me.
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- Sep 16 2018 - 06:13
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Engine issues indeed, Not supplying to any team that could be an competition is the real reason. Renault and Honda will come closer with their performance over the next couple of years. At the moment I can't see any reason to change the powerunit specs apart from somehow making it easier for independent PU suppliers to get into F1. What I would like to see is that the release the regulations around battery usage and allow to do more with electrical energy which is more inline with today's requirement to become less dependable on fuel.
  + 0
  
  Sep 16 2018 - 07:04
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  They will probably improve, but I wonder if they will improve enough. They are at least one year behind Ferrari and Mercedes, and so the 3 PU allocations hurt their teams the most. At this rate, F1 is in a catch 22 scenario, in which we kinda need them to do some BoP to boost the B tier PUs, but at the same time such a move would be unfair to the A tier PUs who got their stuff together.
  
  I too wouldnt mind the FIA releasing the electric restrictions, but I only think it'd benefit Ferrari. Both Honda and Renault still struggle with the electric component, so it wouldnt help them in the slightest.
  + 0
  
  Sep 16 2018 - 10:57
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Maybe we should write an technical directive that can be implemented by the Fia. I believe that it might benefit Renault more than the others because of their involvement with FE. We're on the same trail of thought.
  + 0
  
  Sep 16 2018 - 13:29
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Oh yes definitely. Nevermind the FIA, here comes the BCA!
  + 0
  
  Sep 16 2018 - 15:51