Daniel Ricciardo the angriest he’s EVER been over THIS - Red Bull's HUGE claim
DANIEL RICCIARDO was the angriest he has ever been as a result of his damaging three-place grid penalty, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed.
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The Australian cannot start higher than fourth in the grid for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix after he was harshly punished for breaching a newly-introduced regulation in practice on Friday in Melbourne.
Ricciardo was alleged to have driven too quickly in the final two mini sectors of his hot lap after the red flag came out during the second session of practice for loose writing loom on the pit straight.
The driver’s furious response to the FIA's sanction was that it was a “s***house” penalty and Horner acknowledged Ricciardo’s fury - hoping that it will inspire him to a memorable performance.
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I saw a very angry Daniel last night. I’ve never seen him that angry before.
“I saw a very angry Daniel last night. I’ve never seen him that angry before,” declared Horner to Sky Sports when asked if the penalty served as motivation for the 28-year-old.
“If he needed any extra motivation, he’s certainly got it.
“I don’t think he needed any extra, he’s pretty pumped up. He’s got a big home crowd here.
“There’s obviously a lot of expectation on him.
“You never know it might have a reverse effect that it relieves a bit of pressure and allows him to just go for it.
“He’s largely over it but it’s still eating away at him. He’s pretty revved up about it.”
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All of Ricciardo’s five wins for Red Bull have come from outside the top three on the grid and Horner said that, even on a circuit as notoriously tricky to overtake on as Albert Park, he is capable of fighting back.
“He’s had some great wins for us,” he continued during FP3.
“It’d be great to see him add to that if not here, then in future races this season.
“We’re just absolutely gutted for him that he’s carrying that penalty here but that’s what it is. We’ve got to deal with it, get on with it.
“As I said to him yesterday, the starts he’s capable of and the first laps he’s driven, three places he can deal with in three corners.”
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Told that Ricciardo had claimed to Sky Sports that the penalty robbed him of a front row start, Horner added: “I like his confidence! We had a positive day yesterday.
“The analysis all the teams did overnight, Lewis looked like he had an advantage of a few tenths yesterday.
“But after that, massively tight between ourselves, Valtteri [Bottas] and the Ferraris. It could be interesting.”