Daniel Ricciardo criticizes Lance Stroll’s refusal to accept responsibility for their collision during the Chinese Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo sharply criticized Lance Stroll following their incident at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The pair made contact during the first safety car restart at turn 14’s hairpin, with Stroll hitting the back of Ricciardo’s car as they slowed for the turn.
The damage Ricciardo sustained in the collision led to his retirement, joining his teammate Yuki Tsunoda who was already out of the race after being hit by Kevin Magnussen.
Stroll maintained he was not to blame for the incident despite a 10-second penalty.
“I think someone ahead braked, I don’t know who. And it’s the accordion effect, everyone braked and I was the last one to touch Ricciardo. But it was just an accordion effect.”
“We were having a good race to finish eighth or ninth, but that’s how it is.”
Ricciardo condemned Stroll’s attitude.
“I was slowly starting to calm down, then I was told what Lance thought of the incident.”
“Apparently, I’m an idiot and it was my fault, so that made my blood boil because it’s clear as day and it’s also behind a safety car.”
“The only thing you have to do is watch the car in front of you. We can’t predict what the leader will do, we can’t assume that we’re going to take turn 14 flat out, the race only starts at the safety car control line.”
“So I’m doing my best not to say what I want to say, but ‘Fuck him’ – and I’m still being nice by saying that.”
Ricciardo hinted that he would seek to continue discussions with the Aston Martin driver if he continues to deny responsibility for the incident.
“I won’t go further because maybe in an hour, when he sees it, he might take responsibility. But if he doesn’t, I can’t help him. It’s so frustrating. Obviously, racing incidents happen, but behind a safety car, it should never happen.”
“What makes my blood boil is that I watched his onboard camera to see his point of view, to try maybe just to have some sort of understanding.”
“And as soon as we start braking, you see his helmet turn right. He’s looking at the apex of turn 14, he’s not even looking at me.”
“When he looks back, he’s behind me. I don’t know what he’s doing or where his head is, but all you have to do is worry about me in this situation and clearly, that was not the case.”
“Let’s see what he says in the media, but if he attacks me, I’ll say more.”
Note that Ricciardo is summoned to the stewards for another incident, an illegal overtake under safety car. But this will not change his retirement…
Ricciardo Blames Stroll for Crash in Chinese GP. Ricciardo Blames Stroll for Crash in Chinese GP
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