Ricciardo achieved a lap time that could have secured him the 10th position in Q1. However, his time was promptly invalidated due to exceeding track limits when he went off track at the highest point of Eau Rouge.
Ricciardo acknowledged that the error had consequences and emphasized that he would have achieved a higher speed if he had stayed on track.
When asked about the frustration of the deleted laptime, he mentioned that he believes he also lost some time due to exceeding the track limits.
“I attempted to navigate Eau Rouge at full speed, but as I entered the turn, I sensed the car shifting. Consequently, I slightly eased off the accelerator, causing me to veer off course onto the damp section of the track. At that point, there wasn’t much else I could do.”
“I had no choice but to release the car. I made an attempt to salvage it. Yes, it was undoubtedly exasperating.”
“I cannot reword”
Ricciardo acknowledged his anticipation for another opportunity to demonstrate his speed in the shootout session, which determines the sprint grid.
“I am currently experiencing a great sense of happiness knowing that I have the opportunity for another chance tomorrow,” he expressed. “This has somewhat alleviated the pain.”
“And yes, I believe we should return to working on the laptops and analyze the data. It is likely that we will encounter comparable circumstances tomorrow, so let’s observe how that affects our progress.”
Daniel Ricciardo, AlphaTauri AT04, in the pit lane
Photo by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images
The outcome today is clearly disheartening and unsatisfying. However, I believe that during Q1, I was present and in the first attempt, I was slightly distant. Additionally, if it weren’t for the incident at Eau Rouge, I might have been able to improve my time a bit more.
“I believe we are almost there, within a small margin, and I am eager to enter Q2 and see if I can continue making progress.”
I believe that overall, the speed is satisfactory, which is crucial. There wasn’t much confusion or difficulty, and although there are areas for improvement, the outcome was positive. It’s just unfortunate that we will begin Sunday’s activities from a disadvantaged position.
Ricciardo acknowledged that it was not the most favorable situation to participate in his second event with AlphaTauri as a sprint weekend with a condensed schedule, especially with the added excitement of the Spa rain.
“It presents a challenge, but it compels us to proceed,” he stated. “A typical weekend allows for greater experimentation with the setup, enabling me to better understand the car’s capabilities and the effects of various components such as the front wing.”
I enjoy diving right in and giving it my all, which is why I was satisfied with the pace I was demonstrating despite having limited practice.
“I clearly have some additional discoveries to make, but during Q2, I believed I could have continued to uncover those additional few tenths.”
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