Unimpressed Ricciardo rues 'unfair' treatment from Verstappen

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Daniel Ricciardo was unimpressed with both his team and his Red Bull team mate after Saturday's qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix which the Aussie ended in P7.

In a bid to improve his speed, Ricciardo expected Max Verstappen to lead the way at one point and provide him with a slipstream down the Red Bull Ring's main straight.

Instead, the opposite occurred, with Ricciardo consistently running in front of his team mate, who subsequently qualified two spots ahead of the Honey Badger.

Speaking to Sky F1, Ricciardo vented his frustrations linked to the outcome of the session.

"I’m not too impressed to be honest," he said.

"We had three runs and I was just punching a hole for everyone and I think if you get one run fair enough, each… I am not that happy that is all.

"We could have been more fair," he concluded.

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Red Bull's team radio revealed that Verstappen had been asked to overtake Ricciardo, a request the Dutch driver refused to fulfill, twice, arguing that he was going by the team's established policy which calls for each driver to exit the garage first on alternate weekends.

"We always agree before the weekend who is going in front," Verstappen told Sky.

"I was going in front in Paul Ricard, he was going the race before that in front.

"So we just discussed that - this was his weekend to go in front. That’s how it is and, yeah. It’s very simple. Every run in Paul Ricard I was in front, so we have to do the same here."

As annoyed as Ricciardo appeared to be, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner sided with Verstappen.

"We have a very simple policy that's operated for the last seven years," Horner told Sky F1's Ted Kravitz.

"We alternate from weekend to weekend who drives out of the garage first, it's the only way to keep it as scrupulously fair from circuit to circuit.

"This weekend was Daniel's time to drive out of the garage first ahead of Max, and obviously he felt that Max might be benefitting from that, so that's why he decided to back up a bit."

In Horner's view, the team rules were clear for both men.

"They know the situation, there is nothing to explain," he concluded, which begs the question however as to why Verstappen was asked to overtake his team mate?

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.