Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko praised Daniel Ricciardo for his performance in last weekend’s Chinse Grand Prix despite the Aussie’s failure to score any points in Shanghai.
Ricciardo qualified 12th but was running within the top-ten mid-way through the 56-lap race when, during the event’s Safety Car period, he was hit from behind by a clumsy Lance Stroll as the field approached the hairpin.
Unfortunately, damage inflicted by the Aston Martin driver to Ricciardo’s VCARB 01 was deemed as terminal, which forced the Aussie into retirement on lap 33.
But Ricciardo’s speed in qualifying, in which he comprehensively outpaced teammate Yuki Tsunoda, and his solid display on Sunday, up until his incident with Stroll, were given strong marks by Marko.
“Daniel Ricciardo had a new chassis available in China and the whole thing was planned from the start because it is our third chassis that we wanted to bring to the track,” the Austrian told Speedweek.
“But of course this change also played into his psychology after Daniel's disappointing performances on the previous weekends.
“Things went much better for Ricciardo in China,” added Marko.
“I find it unbelievable that Lance Stroll called him an idiot after the checkered flag fell. And that he also had to receive a penalty for Miami. This really wasn't his weekend.”
©RB
Looking back on his weekend, Ricciardo also cast a positive view despite the frustrations linked to his misfortune.
"It was definitely a bit of a kind of yo-yo race," said the F1 veteran. "Everyone pitted early, so we went longer.
"As soon as we put on the second medium, we were very good. I know we were only out there for five or six laps, but it felt rapid.
"The tyres still being pretty good, we chose to stay out for track position. Then we were going to fit a soft at the end. We would have been in a very good place.
"Obviously, immediate disappointment and frustration, but in 48 hours' time, we look back and reflect on the weekend. It's definitely a good weekend.
"As a team, we feel like we took a blow to the stomach now. But probably deeper than that, we have some positives."
While RB has issued no information on whether Ricciardo’s previous chassis was defective in any way, the 34-year-old reiterated his view that something didn’t feel right. And that sentiment has now gone away with RB’s introduction of a new tub.
"From the get-go it just felt like we're in a better place and everything came a bit more seamlessly," he explained.
"We did change chassis. I don't want to jump on that and be like: "It's definitely that'. But something didn't make me feel right with the previous chassis I was racing.
"I would love to kind of be here in five races' time and say that, because then it means the season has definitely turned around and I get that monkey off our back.
"We'll see in Miami, and Imola and maybe the next few [races] if it continues."
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