Daniel Ricciardo endured probably one of the worst weekends of his life. Despite managing to put his car on P8 on Saturday’s qualifying of the Singapore Grand Prix, he had to start from the pit lane after he was disqualified from the session owing to breaking the MGU-K limit. Renault accepted the decision and very diplomatically made their anger evident over the bizarre decision.
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Later, the team decided to give the Australian new engine parts and hence pushing him to a pit lane start. The kind of circuit Marine Bay is, overtaking is very very difficult at the Singapore Grand Prix. Hence, it was always a tough ask for Danny Ric to be able to finish in points or make up substantial places.
Renault F1 Team acknowledges the decision from the FIA Stewards to disqualify Daniel Ricciardo from the qualifying session of the Singapore Grand Prix [1/2]
— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) September 21, 2019
after he benefitted from an advantage measured at one-microsecond due to a kerb hit that caused his MGU-K to overrev on his slowest lap of Q1. The decision will therefore not be appealed. [2/2]
— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) September 21, 2019
In the end, he finished a low 14th and even had a bit of a crash with Pierre Gasly when the duo banged wheels. He was at one point running as high as third when he hadn’t taken a pit stop, but that was obviously temporary. His teammate, Nico Hulkenberg finished 9th, which showcases the Renault car had potential to score points with the Australian. Shame, indeed.
Ricciardo on his quali penalty: "I have some strong words for them, but I’ll leave that…but I think you know what I feel. They ruined my weekend. A 12-hour flight return, I feel was bit for nothing. So maybe they will pay for my seat on the way home tomorrow." #F1
— Phillip Horton (@PHortonF1) September 22, 2019
Frustrated and annoyed, he called upon the FIA and expressed his anger – “I have some strong words for them, but I’ll leave that…but I think you know what I feel. They ruined my weekend. A 12-hour flight return, I feel was bit for nothing. So maybe they will pay for my seat on the way home tomorrow.”
He further added, “For me, it happened on one occurrence on one lap. If it was happening on the same corner every lap for the whole session I would not complain at all.
“But it’s like track limits you go off, gain an advantage, delete that lap. We didn’t even gain an advantage from this yet they delete the whole session. So I was disgraced by that and voiced my opinion, I’ll keep voicing it.
“They’re doing great things on track, letting us race and all that. But then what’s the point of not giving penalties on track for then giving a massive penalty for something that’s out of my control?”
