Ricciardo unhappy with team strategy in qualifying

After once again taking to the track first to tackle his final timed test, Ricciardo therefore tried to slow down to let the second RB14 pass. “ What is happening ? » immediately inquired Verstappen on the radio. His engineer then ordered him to overtake but the Dutchman refused to comply, replying: “ no, it's a question of discipline ».

Still a little burned by the situation, Ricciardo, who finally qualified 7th, was moved by it to Sky Sports when he got out of the car. His team principal Christian Horner was surprised to hear the winner of Shanghai and Monaco complain, revealing that the house policy at Red Bull consisted of having a driver start first for the entire weekend before alternating for the following round.

« This is the only way to ensure fairness between them in a scrupulous manner., said the boss of Red Bull Racing. This weekend, it was Daniel's turn to go first. In the heat of the moment, he may have felt at a disadvantage on a track where aspiration can help. At Paul Ricard, it was the opposite situation and he benefited from it. The two pilots have now had time to analyze things cold and they have thus been able to form a different opinion ».

Faced with the written press, Ricciardo actually adopted a more nuanced speech even if he thinks that he should have made known his doubts about the procedure to follow, also fueled by the presence of three DRS zones, before the session.

« I spoke about it with my engineer, explained the Australian whose future in F1 continues to shake up the transfer market. But we didn't discuss it at team level so when they saw us playing cat and mouse in qualifying, they didn't understand. In my mind, while I was driving, I told myself that it was quite obvious. 'Give me the opportunity to be aspirational instead of letting myself play the hare'”

For Verstappen, qualified 5th but promoted to 4th on the grid after the penalty Sebastian Vettel, the protocol to follow was clear.

« It is very simple ; every weekend we reverse, declared the Dutchman. Last time I covered all the laps in Q3 in front and he was right behind me. It was my turn today ».

Each driver generally has two attempts in Q3 but the short Austrian track allowed the Red Bull drivers to have three attempts, which did not contribute to the confusion between the two teammates on the last run.