The VSC made the end of the race boring according to Ricciardo

Certainly still smiling as usual on the podium of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Daniel Ricciardo could not let escape a hint of disappointment at the press conference after the finish of the Texan event.

Author of a better takeoff than Nico Rosberg, the Australian Red Bull Racing retained his second place for a long time against the German driver of Mercedes, but saw fate turn against him with the entry into action of the virtual safety car, following the abandonment of his teammate Max Verstappen.

“I think the start itself didn't seem much better than the Mercedes on soft tires so I was hoping for a little better, specified Ricciardo. But Nico chose to go outside so I had a little room inside. I had at least one. I obviously hoped to pass both but it was better than nothing. »

Passing through the pits before the intervention of the VSC, Ricciardo saw Rosberg take advantage of a “free” stop allowing him to keep the second place recovered thanks to the passage through the pit lane of the winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix.

“I thought after the aid stations we would have had about five seconds on him. And then after the virtual safety car, he was almost five seconds ahead of me so that was frustrating.

It would have been interesting, even if he had passed me at the end, to have at least one fight. I think the racing, after the virtual safety car, became a bit... boring. I guess without the VSC it would have been a bit spicier. »

The Australian, who believes he had the car to play for second place, also admitted that the fact that it was Max Verstappen who caused the arrival of the virtual safety car had made the episode “worse” in a sense .

Find the full report and analysis of the United States Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Austin, in issue 2086 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version, and this Wednesday on newsstands.