Underneath a mid-race security automotive, Aston Martin driver Stroll clattered into the again of Ricciardo on the hairpin, which pressured the Australian to retire with automotive harm.
Ricciardo was furious with Stroll’s refusal to take blame for the incident, whereas the Canadian labelled his penalty a “joke”.
However amid a troublesome a up to now point-less begin to the 2024 season, which has dented Ricciardo’s hopes of touchdown the coveted second Crimson Bull seat in 2025, China was a much-improved weekend for him till the Stroll conflict.
Ricciardo certified forward of team-mate Yuki Tsunoda for each the dash and the grand prix, and was within the hunt for factors in each races.
Describing his “yo-yo race”, Ricciardo stated. “Everybody pitted early, so we went longer.
“As quickly as we placed on the second medium, we had been excellent. I do know we had been solely on the market for 5 or 6 laps, nevertheless it felt speedy.
“The tyres nonetheless being fairly good, we selected to remain out for observe place.
“Then we had been going to suit a delicate on the finish. We’d have been in an excellent place.
Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Money App RB F1 Crew
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Clearly, quick disappointment and frustration, however in 48 hours time we glance again and mirror on the weekend. It is undoubtedly an excellent weekend.
“As a crew, we really feel like we took a blow to the abdomen now. However in all probability deeper than that, we’ve got some positives.”
Ricciardo had requested RB for a chassis change forward of the Shanghai occasion. Whereas there is no such thing as a phrase of whether or not there was any precise subject together with his {old} tub, or whether or not it’s a placebo impact, the 34-year-old stated at the least “something” changed to make him feel more at ease.
“From the get-go it simply felt like we’re in a greater place and every thing got here a bit extra seamlessly,” he defined.
“We did change chassis. I do not need to soar on that and be like: “It is undoubtedly that’.
“However one thing did not make me really feel proper with the earlier chassis I used to be racing.
“I’d like to form of be right here in 5 races’ time and say that, as a result of then it means the season has undoubtedly circled and I get that monkey off our again.
“We’ll see in Miami, and Imola and possibly the subsequent few [races] if it continues.”
Further reporting by Jonathan Noble
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