Why Daniel Ricciardo has mixed emotions watching Max Verstappen pass Lewis Hamilton from the best seat in the house
WOKING, UK – Daniel Ricciardo has perhaps the best look anyone in the world for Max Verstappen’s title-winning pass – and subsequent defensive moves – of Lewis Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year. last.
Ricciardo sat in the next car back. In fact, there is much controversy. Ricciardo’s presence had a reminder of Questions still exist from that race.
Unlike the overtaking cars that were between Hamilton and Verstappen behind the safety car in the final laps, Ricciardo, and the other cars behind him, were not allowed to overtake the leads and drivers. Return to join the crew before the race begins again.
Masi’s decision to adopt these rules did not follow the FIA’s regulations on safe vehicle restarts.
That appeal allowed Verstappen, on brand new tires, to attack Hamilton, with old tires, in a one-round sprint to the finish line with no cars in the way. Verstappen overcame the seven-time world champion in turn 3 and then defended Hamilton’s two counterattacks in the later corners, fending off cramp as he did so, in one of the impressive finishes. The most iconic F1 season ever.
Ricciardo, watching from the cockpit of the next car, said he felt like a fan again as it all unfolded in front of him.
When told at McLaren’s 2022 car launch he had a pretty good view of what went down, Ricciardo laughed and told ESPN: “Yes, that’s a privilege!
“It was funny. Not only was there a lap to go, my race was… I wasn’t in the race. It wasn’t a great Sunday for me. I was really a spectator. fake in that last round.
“Even going through Turns 2 and 3, I could see Max was pretty close, I was like ‘Will Lewis defend, what’s going on? I’m pretty sure I saw his flash like he was cutting, I was like ‘why did he slip in the last lap?’, I thought he would have run out of battery to use.
“That’s when Max was passing, I was like, how does this happen!? I watched as a fan back in 2008 [at the Brazilian Grand Prix], the final round drama with Massa and Hamilton. It is a lot to handle. “
Riccio’s post-race messages were sent out after the finish line and gained a lot of traction in the weeks that followed.
After it was over, Ricciardo radioed McLaren saying: “I don’t know what they did with the passing. Obviously, I didn’t really do it anyway, but it just seemed weird.”
He added: “I’m glad I wasn’t part of that – whatever just happened. It looks pretty good.”
Speaking about that message two months later, Ricciardo said how he feels for Hamilton because he lost the title.
“I thought, man, how would you feel if you were Hamilton now?
“After the race, my radio came on and I said I’m glad I wasn’t a part of it.” It is too much to handle! So for that reason, I’m probably glad I wasn’t part of what was going on in Hamilton’s head at the time. “
Speaking at McLaren’s 2022 car launch, Ricciardo said his Australian compatriot Masi needs some support in the role of race director to prevent F1 from repeating the results in Abu Dhabi.
