McLaren F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has been issued a three-place grid penalty for his first laptop collision with Kevin Magnussen. In addition, he will get two penalty points on his Super License.
This brings his total to eight. For better or for worse, though, he shouldn’t be worried about his penalty points tally. As you know, next year, Daniel will be changed by fellow Australian Oscar Piastri.
Ricciardo would love to finish the season on a high, but his life will definitely be a bit harder with the penalty. However, Abu Dhabi offers a couple of overtaking opportunities, so he should be able to give these places back pretty quickly.
Why was Ricciardo penalised?
The Honey Badger had a decent start in the Brazilian Grand Prix. He eased toward Kevin Magnussen, whose race pace was far from what we anticipated after his maiden Pole Position.
Ricciardo was clearly faster through turns six and seven and tried something close to a dive bomb in turn eight. However, he backed off, because Magnussen closed the door. As it looks, Daniel anticipated that Kevin will accelerate more quickly, and touched his right rear tire.
This sent the Dane into a spin. As he was trying to get out of the way, his Haas struck the McLaren of Ricciardo. Respectively, the Australian was on his way to avoid him on the outside, ending the race for both of them.
Daniel Ricciardo’s say on the matter
“I had a decent run through [turns] six and seven and I remember cutting back to the inside for eight,” said Ricciardo. “I was kind of having a look, but also just trying to brake with a little bit of clean air.
“Then I remember then Kevin protecting the line, so I was then just trying to pull back in line and follow suit. I remember pulling up a bit and then obviously I think part of the apex, that’s when I gave him a little touch.
“To be honest, it didn’t feel like much. But then as soon as I saw him start to slide, I was like, ‘oh’. And then the second part, obviously, that’s when we made bigger contact.”
“I don’t know if, let’s say, I could’ve braked harder or more, or if it was just the way he squared up the corner and the angle, I don’t know. But also I’m not here to say it’s his fault, my fault, I mean if it’s my fault of course I apologize, but it’s more just sorry for both of us for not being in the race and sorry for our team, that’s the part that hurts the most. Lap one incidents they’re certainly the worst.”
