Ricciardo admits Spanish GP hurt lingering
ByAutoSport
Published 20/05/2016 at 13:08 GMT
Red Bull Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has admitted to not finding it easy moving on from his Spanish Grand Prix disappointment, and still waking up with it on his mind.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
After Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed into one another on lap one, Ricciardo appeared on course for the win.
But Red Bull used Ricciardo to counter Sebastian Vettel's three-stop plan, while Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen went head-to-head on a two-stop strategy.
The outcome was Verstappen becoming the youngest driver in F1 history to win a race, while Ricciardo finished fourth, bemoaning post-race the strategy "didn't make sense".
Reflecting on what unfolded a few days after the event, Ricciardo said: "The outcome of the race was frustrating.
"Is it easy to move on? I wouldn't say easy. Can you move on? Absolutely.
"It's been a few days since the race and I still wake up with it on my mind.
"I'm going to bed with it off my mind, but I'm waking up with it on my mind, so it will take a bit of time."
Ricciardo's frustration is exacerbated because he feels he has not got the results his performances have deserved in the last three races.
"I feel there's always been something better to have and available for me, so it's now like 'Ah, come on'," added Ricciardo.
"But at the same time it's just racing and that's part of it.
"It's a tough one. Part of me is happy the team is winning again, and part of me is happy everyone is super-motivated and confidence is high, so that's a positive I'm trying to draw myself to.
"But from a personal side it was massively frustrating.
"It's a tough one - sure it's a team sport, but you are doing it for yourself as well.
"It's as individual as it is team, and that balance is a tricky one to always try and manage, but obviously from a personal side it's still a hard one to take."
Although Ricciardo outqualified new team-mate Verstappen to line up third, he recognises the 18-year-old is a formidable opponent.
"Max is a serious F1 driver, and that's really good for me. It's definitely good motivation," said Ricciardo.
"I said when I joined Red Bull - and I had Seb [Vettel as team-mate] - I wanted to go up against the best and challenge myself. Now Max is the newest challenge for me, and he is a big one.
"It's good he is having this success because if I can get on top of that then it's only going to be good for me, probably both of our careers."
Ricciardo feels after a positive test, and with Renault's upgraded engine imminent, Red Bull is poised for more success.
"I sit here positive and happy with our position, and definitely excited," said the Australian.
"I'm not going to get too excited, but a little bit excited that I think we can fight for a lot more podiums this year."
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