Ricciardo: Introducing faster cars in 2017 was 'not the best thing to do'

  • Published on 06 Nov 2019 16:53
  • comments 2
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Renault's Daniel Ricciardo doesn't believe that Formula 1 benefitted from introducing faster cars with more downforce in 2017.

A shake-up in the technical regulations saw the cars go a handful of seconds quicker from 2016, while the development of the cars over the last three years has only made the cars even faster.

In 2021, F1 will once again change up its rulebook, with the new technical regulations aimed at reducing the gap between the field and also allow them to race more closely at the circuit. 

"The cars look big, sexy and wide," Ricciardo said. "They look awesome and better than they did in 2016. But my concern was the width itself, the tracks weren't made wider.

"There was less room to overtake. Not even overtake, just in F1, you look for the tiniest bit of clear air if you're following another car.

"If he's on the apex kerb, you're trying to take a bit more apex kerb to get some clear air on your front wing. 

"But having wider cars, it's harder to find that clearer air. That alone for me, taking the downforce out of it, them taking [up] more track makes it harder to follow.

"So that was maybe not the best thing to do. I don't want to say we'll learn from our mistakes, but we'll learn and move forward."

'Everyone will defend harder in 2021'

When questioned on whether or not the ease of going wheel-to-wheel racing would make overtakes less dramatic in 2021, Ricciardo stated that drivers will be defending harder than ever.

"When others are passing one car, I'll be passing two at once!" Ricciardo affirmed. "That's the way you got to look at it.

"It puts more on us to defend better as well. I don't think it's going to be easy to overtake, it's not going to be like everyone can do it. Everyone will be trying to defend harder.

"Having more opportunities available will mean better excitement for everyone."

xoya

Posts: 583

Racing was never about speed.

  • 1
  • Nov 7 2019 - 01:49

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • I'm glad drivers and principals are coming to grips with the reality that overall speed is not the ultimate goal. Ultimately, the cars from any previous age were a lot slower, especially those supposedly golden ages of the sport 80's, 90's.

    I'm very optimistic about the changes in sporting regulations for 2021. I hope they also fix the corresponding political inequities like the Ferrari veto, and unfair prizes distributions. If we can do both, I think the sport will get a massive uplift in every sense of the word. I can see a few new manufacturers wanting to come in like Porsche and Aston Martin

    • + 0
    • Nov 6 2019 - 23:16
  • xoya

    Posts: 583

    Racing was never about speed.

    • + 1
    • Nov 7 2019 - 01:49

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 16:28

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 16:28

World Championship standings 2025

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 - 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
See full schedule

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
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Visa Cash App RB
  • Points 1,061
  • Podiums 24
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (35)
  • Place of b. Perth, AU
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar