Why did Daniel Ricciardo want to apologize to Carlos Sainz?

After his on-track contact with Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo made a point of apologizing directly at the end of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Published on 01/05/2022 à 10:53

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Why did Daniel Ricciardo want to apologize to Carlos Sainz?

Daniel Ricciardo finished in 18th place in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after his contact with Carlos Sainz ©Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

Last Sunday at Imola, contact from the first corner between Daniel Ricciardo et Carlos Sainz dashed the Spaniard's hopes. Arriving at the same level at Tamburello, the Australian touched the driver's left rear wheel Ferrari which ended its race in the gravel. Obviously disappointed with his race and this contact, Carlos Sainz received a visit from Daniel Ricciardo at the end of the Grand Prix in the Ferrari motorhome. The pilot McLaren wanted to apologize after the incident during the race.

Both Red Bull fly away at the start! 🚀🚥

One Ferrari less from the first corner! 😱❌#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 ▶️ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/zAw70ZkrKY

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) April 24, 2022

« There are only twenty F1 drivers. You kind of respect each other’s journey., explains Daniel Ricciardo on the set of The Daily Show. So with the incident, if I hold myself responsible for something, then I just feel like I have to go and apologize and it's nothing personal. »

Do not have resentment about the next races

Aged 32 and with twelve seasons under his belt in Formula 1, Daniel Ricciardo has been able to evolve in his relationship with the nineteen other drivers. “ I think that with the experience and the fact of being there for so long (in Formula 1, Editor's note), I have the necessary maturity to know how much we all invest. And as competitive as we are, we all have something strong in common. And there are only twenty of us in the world who can do it. »

Aware that not all drivers would have taken the trouble to come and apologize, the McLaren driver wants there to be no hard feelings on the track. “ I just felt better doing it. We're making a clean slate of the past for next time. When we get to the same level on the track next time, there will be no intensity. At least, there will be some intensity, but nothing exacerbated, I suppose », concludes Daniel Ricciardo. With 11 points on the clock, the Australian occupies 11th place in the Drivers' Standings and hopes that the new track in Miami will allow him to make up the 24-point gap on his teammate Lando Norris.