Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo says team orders must be respected – unless truly outlandish – because the team know best how things will eventually play out during the race.
The Australian’s comments come after his own team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, ignored an order to move aside during the Chinese Grand Prix.
Vettel simply replied “tough luck” when his engineer explained that Ricciardo was quicker and needed to get past.
The Australian, who’s managed to outqualify Vettel three in four times, says it’s their responsibility to obey the teams demands even if it’s ‘frustrating’.
“We throw up different [team-order] scenarios and discuss it, discuss it between drivers and between principals and engineers,” Ricciardo told The West Australian newspaper.
“It is our responsibility to obey it, unless it’s completely out of order and then we can obviously try and put up a fight and give our reasons.
“But the team are doing all the calculations on pit wall during the race and you have to respect what they’re saying.
“It’s not always nice if you are being told to move over. It’s not nice being that slower car, it’s frustrating.”
That ‘respect’ must extend not only to the team, but to each other too, and Ricciardo says no matter the outcome on-track, he will give Vettel “the credit he deserves”.
“I want to race the best version of Seb and he wants to race the best version of me. At the end of the day I think we’ll both respect whoever’s done a better job.
“Deep, deep down none of us like losing. If Seb’s done a better job this year, I won’t like it, but I’ll definitely respect him for it and give him the credit he deserves.”
