Daniel Ricciardo says his FP1 DRS issues compromised his qualifying run in Austria, but asserted that there is “never any good reason” to be eliminated in Q1.
The eight-time Formula 1 grand prix winner failed to progress past the opening stage of qualifying on Friday, and is set to start Saturday’s F1 Sprint from 16th on the grid.
Ricciardo endured issues with his rear wing during Friday’s sole practice session and other than team-mate Lando Norris, set the fewest number of laps during the 60-minute outing.
“It compromised the set-up a bit, things we had to do for quali,” Ricciardo said after qualifying.
“But yeah, it still feels like there’s never any good reason to be out in Q1. We’re unfortunately back here again.
“[We’ll] just try and try to figure it out. We have a long weekend now, we have two races so that’s that positive – a few good race starts and I can catch a few spots.
“But obviously I never want to be out in Q1.”
It marked the second time this year that Ricciardo’s qualifying session ended after Q1.
When asked where he is losing time, the Australian replied: “It seems just a little bit everywhere.
“I don’t want to say I made steps, it was obviously still too far off. It’s just a bit everywhere for the most part. I’m trying to calm down a little, it is what it is.”
Ricciardo says that he will treat the situation as “an adult” in other to make progress as the season wears on.
“I want to be better, in terms of like, I don’t want to just walk out of the turnstiles and say ‘see you later’,” he said.
“I obviously want to figure it out and the only way it’s going to get better is if I learn and understand a bit more. Try to just be an adult in this situation. I
“’ll let some emotion out but obviously we’ve still got a long weekend ahead so I need to still keep my eyes forward on the prize and know that it’ll get better if we keep working.”
It’s amazing how much Zak Brown has destroyed McLaren. There must be some reason why the shareholders have put up with him for so long, which I can only assume is some sort of money laundering scheme. With the passing of Ojjeh (the only reason Ron Dennis was ousted), there is absolutely no reason why Ron shouldn’t have at least been offered his old position back — but then again perhaps he doesn’t want to be a part of the new woke-era of F1 and turned it down. It will be interesting to see who ends up buying McLaren in the coming years as this downwards direction can only result in an acquisition — maybe Brown himself for pennies on the dollar (now that he has made it worthless), or a company like VW?