Ricciardo experienced disappointment during the Spa F1 qualifying as his lap time, which could have secured 10th place in Q1, was deleted due to a track limits violation. He admitted that going off track at Eau Rouge cost him valuable time, and he believes he could have been even faster if it hadn’t happened.
The frustration of the deleted laptime was evident, and he explained that he attempted to take Eau Rouge at full speed, but the car started to slide, forcing him to lift off the throttle and go off the racing line. This put him on a wetter part of the track, making it challenging to improve his time further. Despite the setback, he recognized that such incidents are part of qualifying.
Ricciardo found some solace in knowing that he would have a second chance in the shootout session to showcase his one-lap pace and determine the sprint grid. This prospect softened the disappointment he felt from the Q1 exit.
He acknowledged that they would analyze data and expect similar conditions for the next day. Despite the frustrating result, Ricciardo expressed confidence in the speed of the car and believed they were within a few tenths of the leading pace. He looked forward to Q2 and intended to keep making progress.
Regarding the unique challenge of a sprint weekend with limited practice and compressed timetables, Ricciardo accepted it as part of the game. He preferred a conventional weekend with more setup adjustments and track time but enjoyed the excitement of diving straight into action. Despite the limited running, he felt content with the pace he showed and believed there was still room to find those extra tenths of a second in Q2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Qualifying
Q: What happened to Ricciardo during Spa F1 qualifying?
A: Ricciardo set a lap time that could have secured 10th place in Q1, but it was deleted due to a track limits violation when he went wide and off the track at Eau Rouge.
Q: How did Ricciardo feel about the deleted laptime?
A: Ricciardo admitted that the mistake was costly and frustrating, as he believed he would have been faster without going offline.
Q: What led to the track limits violation?
A: Ricciardo tried to take Eau Rouge at full speed, but the car started to move, forcing him to lift and go offline, putting him on a wetter part of the track.
Q: Did Ricciardo find any positives from the qualifying session?
A: Yes, he found some comfort in knowing he would have another chance in the shootout session to demonstrate his one-lap pace.
Q: How did Ricciardo feel about the upcoming sprint session?
A: Ricciardo expressed excitement about the sprint session and the opportunity to improve his starting position for the main race on Sunday.
Q: How did he feel about the pace of his car?
A: Ricciardo was positive about the speed of his car and believed they were close to the leading pace, with room for improvement.
Q: How did the compressed timetable affect Ricciardo’s approach to the weekend?
A: Ricciardo acknowledged that a conventional weekend with more setup time would be ideal, but he enjoyed the challenge of diving straight into action.
Q: Was Ricciardo satisfied with his performance despite the limited running?
A: Yes, he felt content with the pace he showed in the limited practice and believed he could further improve his performance in Q2.
3 comments
ricciardo’s Q1 exit, no good, mistake @ eau rouge messed up lap time. but he’s got another shot in sprint, so there’s hope! #BelgianGP
ricciardo’s frustration was evident, he felt he cud hav ben faster. d deleted lap hurt, but hey, sprint race is nxt. lookin fwd to dat chance! #F1 #SpaQuali
track limits, aargh! ricciardo’s lap deleted. but he’s not givin’ up! hez got the pace, ready to show it in Q2 & climb up d grid! #motorsport