Daniel Ricciardo says he suffered from some “inconsistencies” between his RB and his team mate’s car in the last round in Jeddah.
He finished 16th in Saudi Arabia, 10 seconds behind Yuki Tsunoda, who had a five-second post-race time penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane.
Eight-times grand prix winner Ricciardo endured a challenging weekend. He lost three positions with a slow pit stop during the early Safety Car period and fell further behind when he spun late in the race.
Ricciardo said his car balance problems in Jeddah were especially costly given how close the midfield teams are.
“We found some inconsistencies across cars,” he explained. “When it’s so tight, especially in our position, you need everything [in order] to try and be there. So that was that.
“In the race, early in the Safety Car period, we had a slow stop. So then it put us at the back, pretty much in a DRS train after that. So then you’re out of position and that kind of made it a very long and tough weekend.”
Ricciardo’s struggles in Jeddah were evident through his radio conversations with race engineer Pierre Hamelin. Early on in the race, Ricciardo reported his RB was “super-twitchy” and that he had “no rear grip”.
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Asked by Hamelin what his car’s limitations were, Ricciardo explained his car was “very neutral on the way in, and then I lose the front.
“I’ve just got to watch the rear on exit,” he continued. “So a little bit of everything for now.”
After his spin at turn one on his penultimate lap, Ricciardo admitted he had taken too much kerb at the apex. Following the chequered flag, Hamelin apologised to his driver for the car’s handling over the weekend.
“Sorry it’s been so difficult,” Hamelin told Ricciardo. “We need to do better and we’ll give you better. We’ll work hard on this.”
Speaking in the FIA press conference ahead of his home grand prix in Melbourne, which he last contested in 2022, Ricciardo is confident he will not have the same difficulties around Albert Park.
“I think everything’s been addressed,” Ricciardo said. “I’ve been speaking with the team a lot. I was back in the sim as well after Saudi and before heading home.
“I feel like we’ve done everything we can to come here with our best shot and I’m very, very happy that we’re probably 24 hours away from getting in the car.”
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