Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian racing driver, faced a challenging start at the Canadian Grand Prix. Starting from fifth on the grid, he encountered wet weather conditions that added an extra layer of complexity to the race. However, it wasn’t the rain that caused his setback—it was a false start that led to a five-second penalty.
Daniel, explaining his penalty: “I know I didn’t jump the lights, so I was a bit confused. But then I remembered I was finding the revs for the start, I felt maybe the car was moving.
Pierre said we had an issue, so perhaps a clutch.”#CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/x1LlUatTJc
— meredith (@mereeedithh) June 9, 2024
As the lights went out, Daniel Ricciardo attempted to go around the outside of the opening corners. Unfortunately, his eagerness resulted in a false start, causing him to lose positions early in the race. The stewards promptly investigated the incident and confirmed the penalty on lap 13. By that point, Ricciardo had slipped to seventh place, trailing Lewis Hamilton by a significant margin.
In the aftermath of the penalty, Ricciardo shared his perspective. He stated, “I know I didn’t jump the lights, so I was a bit confused. But then I remembered I was finding the revs for the start, I felt maybe the car was moving.” His explanation sheds light on the split-second decisions and sensory overload that drivers face during those critical moments.
Daniel Ricciardo Hits Back with Top-5 Qualifying in Canada
Exactly ten years after his first Formula 1 victory, Ricciardo showcased his confidence at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He joined his teammate Yuki Tsunoda in Q3 and finished fifth, just 0.178 seconds behind the identical lap times of pole-sitter George Russell and Max Verstappen.
On the same day, Tsunoda received a contract extension, having outscored Ricciardo by 19 points this season. Meanwhile, 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve questioned why Ricciardo was still in F1. In response, Ricciardo said, “I won’t give them the time of day, but yeah, top five, been quick all weekend, we’re less than two-tenths from pole so… eat s***!”
Daniel Ricciardo expressed his lack of surprise at the top-five result. He felt comfortable throughout the weekend and emphasized that he can perform at this level when everything aligns. His positive mindset and enjoyment of the track played a crucial role in his success.
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