Daniel Ricciardo said he was to blame for his crash in the early stages of Friday’s second practice session at Suzuka.
The Red Bull driver skidded off the track at the last corner and hit a barrier. The session had to be red-flagged while his car was recovered.
“I made a mistake in FP2,” Ricciardo said afterwards. “I did a quick lap and then I was trying to get a good exit to start the next one.”
“We were trying to cool the tyres and there was a yellow flag so I was trying to go slow enough to miss it at the start of the lap, but I think the tyres cooled too much and I was too hard on the throttle for the situation and lost the car.”
Ricciardo hopes the data gathered by team mate Sebastian Vettel will enable him to make progress but expects they won’t be able to beat the Mercedes in Japan.
“It’s not ideal as we missed running this afternoon, but Sebastian did a full session so we will be able to see his data,” said Ricciardo.
“The Mercs were really quick today,, we think we’re there but then they pull a gap. I think we should be able to be third on the grid.”
2014 Japanese Grand Prix
- Streiff’s comments on Bianchi crash investigation prompts legal action from FIA
- No improvement in Bianchi’s condition
- FIA plans changes after Bianchi crash but report says his speed was to blame
- Bianchi returns to France but condition still “critical”
- Bianchi’s family denies reports of return to Europe
Image © Red Bull/Getty
Stretch (@stretch)
3rd October 2014, 11:22
Is he the first RB to crash this year?
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
3rd October 2014, 12:34
Look at all the downforce that front wing generates – that guy can barely lift it.
Ivan B (@njoydesign)
3rd October 2014, 13:04
he even needs the mini-crane to lift him with it =))
Eric (@fletch)
3rd October 2014, 14:10
Lol no it’s his hair caught up in it
socksolid (@socksolid)
3rd October 2014, 19:58
Nah, the guy is just crouching so that the crane doesn’t hit him.
RVG013
3rd October 2014, 20:34
Looks like he is playing guitar
anakincarlos (@anakincarlos)
4th October 2014, 1:11
Crouching marshal hidden down force.
Alex Brown (@splittimes)
3rd October 2014, 17:52
Silly question, but does Vettel asking about Ricciardo’s condition ok under the clarified radio stuff?
Dan
3rd October 2014, 19:09
Was actually funny to me, was one of most pathetic mistakes i have seen. It was a rookie mistake from a great driver. Lets be honest it was Pastor esque
bull mello (@bullmello)
3rd October 2014, 21:15
Respect to Ricciardo for owning his mistake and moving on. It’s easy, a few other drivers may want to try that approach. :-)
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
3rd October 2014, 23:24
Yeah, Maldonado does the exact opposite every time he crashes, which is almost every race weekend.
Neil (@neilosjames)
4th October 2014, 0:47
Last person I remember doing that was Montoya. I think…