Ricciardo recovers for podium after poor start

2014 United States Grand Prix lap times and fastest laps

Posted on

| Written by

From fifth on the grid, Daniel Ricciardo was hopeful that a good start would give him a chance to challenge the Williams drivers for a place on the podium.

As it turned out he didn’t get away well – yet he made it onto the rostrum for the eighth time this year.

“The start wasn’t very good,” he admitted, “I have to put my hand up to that one”. But at the restart he successfully attacked and passed Alonso for fifth, and then used the Red Bull’s strong pace and good tyre preservation to put pressure on the Williams drivers.

Overcoming their high straight-line speed was always going to be difficult, but Ricciardo used a tactic which has served him well this year. An early first pit stop meant he was the first to gain the benefit of fresh tyres, and with Valtteri Bottas having to wait until after his team mate had pitted to respond, Ricciardo was up to fourth.

Ricciardo jumped the other Williams at his second pit stop, this time thanks to Felipe Massa losing over a second in the pit lane.

Ricciardo praised his pit crew after the race. “The pit stops were really good,” he said. “Red Bull is known for being awesome in the pits and they showed it today.”

United States Grand Prix lap times

All the lap times by the drivers (in seconds, very slow laps excluded):

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2014drivercolours.csv

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56
Nico Rosberg 107.097 166.094 152.448 153.664 104.162 104.09 104.049 103.27 103.452 103.655 104.308 104.211 104.406 104.138 104.075 124.69 104.807 104.559 104.678 104.373 104.384 103.905 104.156 105.711 104.22 104.59 104.459 104.402 104.617 104.403 104.392 104.465 103.913 103.673 123.74 102.381 102.718 102.823 102.473 102.443 102.301 102.519 102.755 102.759 102.766 102.371 102.33 101.932 102.462 102.591 102.695 103.528 102.425 102.567 103.258 105.746
Lewis Hamilton 108 166.25 152.906 152.833 104.215 104.508 103.589 103.458 103.567 103.72 104.123 104.259 104.674 104.963 104.703 105.28 124 104.634 103.988 104.011 103.996 103.622 104.178 104.009 103.735 104.699 104.236 104.409 104.48 103.931 104.11 104.117 103.931 122.631 103.816 103.35 102.618 103.072 102.603 102.351 102.127 102.755 102.776 102.702 102.831 102.875 102.254 101.941 101.929 102.724 102.616 102.581 102.844 102.714 104.049 103.492
Valtteri Bottas 110.458 165.943 152.412 152.603 105.687 104.921 104.111 104.045 103.926 104.352 105.194 105.152 105.144 105.542 105.296 124.669 104.611 104.93 105.165 105.178 104.982 104.267 104.433 104.569 104.422 104.044 104.024 104.42 104.47 104.517 123.508 103.634 104.282 104.238 103.968 103.755 104.106 103.998 104.044 104.097 103.76 103.55 103.661 103.477 103.387 103.039 102.925 102.593 103.057 102.793 103.006 103.132 103.731 103.842 102.505 104.202
Felipe Massa 109.601 166.009 152.65 152.95 105.135 104.9 104.167 103.775 104.064 103.944 105.003 105.149 105.019 105.787 124.682 104.901 103.96 104.269 104.281 104.574 104.301 103.946 104.277 104.21 104.015 104.054 103.978 104.254 104.127 104.058 104.365 105.079 124.549 103.495 103.521 103.34 103.92 103.939 103.671 103.476 103.556 103.576 103.924 103.947 103.676 103.4 103.455 103.026 102.996 102.971 103.23 103.437 103.342 103.385 103.915 104.478
Daniel Ricciardo 112.988 165.712 152.04 151.433 105.664 105.358 104.369 104.341 104.182 104.287 104.708 104.644 104.922 105.467 124.034 104.698 104.262 104.513 104.553 104.664 104.54 103.819 104.349 104.255 104.289 104.395 103.82 104.173 104.083 103.873 104.194 123.048 102.831 103.282 103.412 103.605 103.642 103.544 103.328 103.38 103.486 103.543 103.689 103.843 103.624 103.9 103.606 103.308 103.348 103.276 103.411 103.275 103.317 103.478 103.454 105.086
Fernando Alonso 112.054 165.454 151.877 152.54 107.628 106.232 105.452 105.125 105.252 104.943 105.522 105.247 105.248 105.823 105.849 106.222 125.526 105.752 105.68 106.037 106.919 106.177 106.45 105.617 105.608 106.096 105.259 105.325 104.891 105.318 104.519 105.307 104.43 104.292 104.75 104.929 105.137 104.754 105.112 104.893 104.722 105.17 105.709 125.993 103.694 104.961 101.474 102.971 105.038 106.138 101.69 106.042 107.861 104.721 110.704 103.882
Kevin Magnussen 110.641 174.585 153.074 146.467 108.745 107.603 106.636 106.269 106.669 106.519 106.459 106.252 106.506 106.266 106.412 106.565 106.286 106.331 106.432 106.406 106.659 105.859 106.023 106.292 107.063 107.022 108.328 125.045 104.287 104.471 104.935 105.148 104.407 104.455 104.804 104.716 105.451 105.009 104.817 104.796 104.903 105.508 104.56 106.332 105.089 105.34 105.251 104.97 104.672 104.787 104.919 105.053 105.072 105.77 106.454 106.077
Kimi Raikkonen 114.233 165.474 152.355 150.683 107.494 106.526 106.041 105.646 105.303 105.041 105.557 105.831 105.691 105.755 105.475 106.288 106.802 125.797 106.36 106.231 105.831 105.837 106.192 107.814 106.072 107.096 106.814 106.467 105.788 105.434 105.428 105.512 104.991 105.347 105.306 105.028 105.362 105.025 105.053 105.367 105.382 105.936 123.835 103.787 103.724 103.447 103.687 105.621 104.968 106.161 105.569 107.187 124.047 102.888 104.013
Adrian Sutil
Pastor Maldonado 116.791 163.834 152.582 150.01 108.122 106.865 106.039 105.692 105.67 105.366 105.635 105.496 105.75 105.801 106.114 131.75 105.816 105.836 105.921 106.214 105.316 105.134 105.528 105.308 105.336 105.913 105.034 107.125 104.909 104.684 106.259 105.355 104.95 105.341 105.245 125.117 103.843 103.808 104.079 104.479 105.051 105.568 104.965 104.876 104.767 104.829 104.597 105.155 105.02 105.117 104.369 105.462 104.442 104.483 105.161 105.726
Sergio Perez 146.788
Jenson Button 116.822 173.017 150.563 145.258 108.352 107.829 106.831 106.24 106.888 106.239 106.557 106.293 106.574 106.416 106.282 106.485 106.264 106.676 106.376 106.838 107.126 106.144 106.554 107.476 106.3 106.859 107.818 108.736 123.911 104.948 104.79 104.733 104.255 104.607 104.992 104.596 104.842 104.57 104.498 104.657 105.424 104.726 104.82 105.33 105.54 105.128 104.927 104.908 105.272 104.889 105.01 106.161 107.173 107.748 108.842
Nico Hulkenberg 116.291 173.995 151.249 144.665 109.172 108.108 106.508 106.284 106.504 106.502 107.108 106.473 106.508 106.483 106.226 106.332
Jean-Eric Vergne 117.125 164.963 152.534 148.893 108.371 107.031 106.142 105.649 106.268 105.806 105.275 105.706 105.526 105.474 105.833 130.027 104.18 105.152 106.572 105.285 105.489 105.161 105.245 105.523 105.907 105.976 106.484 106.562 106.078 125.407 104.754 104.511 104.244 104.665 105.201 105.133 105.352 104.927 104.457 104.578 105.285 105.433 104.913 104.654 104.923 104.845 104.693 105.119 104.912 105.054 104.586 104.677 104.39 104.514 105.868 107.316
Esteban Gutierrez 118.311 168.064 153.068 146.065 109.346 110.182 107.991 107.387 107.323 106.798 106.786 106.748 106.621 106.926 106.563 106.73 106.919 107.231 108.925 107.569 133.392 105.945 105.934 105.671 105.317 105.427 105.414 105.632 105.554 105.657 105.78 105.306 105.2 105.522 105.258 105.223 106.417 105.773 105.574 106.646 125.44 103.832 103.98 103.642 103.783 103.451 103.006 103.32 103.1 103.779 104.186 104.561 104.038 103.688 105.671
Romain Grosjean 119.74 163.141 152.934 148.053 108.373 107.042 106.235 105.797 106.344 105.827 105.517 105.435 105.582 105.59 105.652 106.097 125.825 106.253 106.495 105.196 105.337 105.191 105.268 104.961 106.639 105.295 105.554 105.239 105.27 124.595 104.822 104.955 104.464 104.885 105.611 104.844 104.882 105.267 104.846 105.34 105.759 107.294 104.818 104.768 104.994 104.762 104.879 104.963 105.191 107.093 104.44 105.488 106.735 107.142 107.244
Daniil Kvyat 120.886 163.477 152.936 147.109 108.706 107.491 106.43 106.319 106.508 106.343 106.166 106.211 106.134 106.36 106.457 106.342 106.058 106.657 106.298 106.515 106.71 126.697 104.771 105.376 104.807 105.722 105.477 105.57 105.272 105.086 105.131 105.309 105.075 105.143 105.363 105.234 105.633 105.201 105.201 105.474 106.012 123.615 103.782 103.295 103.407 103.596 103.594 103.92 104.7 108.083 114.953 125.947 101.689 103.491 104.313
Sebastian Vettel 121.209 168.033 152.881 144.531 109.25 108.788 106.786 106.614 106.655 106.543 107.018 106.437 106.631 106.62 106.088 106.239 107.12 106.238 106.388 106.485 106.249 106.245 106.154 106.251 106.765 109.365 123.843 104.38 104.424 105.138 104.895 104.845 104.83 104.527 103.895 104.147 104.27 105.132 104.608 104.857 104.976 103.921 104.292 105.688 105.62 104.877 104.944 105.399 122.086 101.379 102.323 102.397 103.584 102.976 102.119 102.564

United States Grand Prix fastest laps

Each driver’s fastest lap:

Rank Driver Car Fastest lap Gap On lap
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1’41.379 50
2 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1’41.474 0.095 47
3 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1’41.689 0.310 53
4 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1’41.929 0.550 49
5 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1’41.932 0.553 48
6 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1’42.505 1.126 55
7 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1’42.831 1.452 33
8 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1’42.888 1.509 54
9 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1’42.971 1.592 50
10 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1’43.006 1.627 47
11 Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 1’43.808 2.429 38
12 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1’44.180 2.801 17
13 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1’44.255 2.876 33
14 Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1’44.287 2.908 29
15 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1’44.440 3.061 51
16 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1’46.226 4.847 15
17 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 2’26.788 45.409 1
18 Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari

2014 United States Grand Prix

Browse all 2014 United States Grand Prix articles

Image © Red Bull/Getty

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

19 comments on “Ricciardo recovers for podium after poor start”

  1. That was almost an average drive by Ricciardo’s standards, which is still exceptional for the majority of the grid.

    Alonso v2.0

    1. I can see Ferrari wanting him one day, particularly with his Italian background. I’m fairly certain that if Ricciardo won the championship the Italian press would adopt him as the first “Italian” champion since Ascari.

    2. @kingshark When he can start like Alonso, then he’s v2.0. Although, if he had kept his position at the start, we wouldn’t have seen some of the best passes of the race.

      1. For starting he is Webber v2.0

    3. WilliamB (@william-brierty)
      3rd November 2014, 10:45

      @kingshark – I wouldn’t say it was average, he still beat a pair of probably faster FW36s and Daniel’s performances in Sochi and Singapore better fit my definition of Ricciardo-spec averageness, but the spectacular nature of his drive was certainly artificially constructed by a poor start. And why is he not Hamilton v2.0? As Lewis did in 2007 he is ruining the stock value of his more illustrious teammate, and like Lewis, has the most remarkable way with the brake pedal. I still don’t understand how he managed to make the apex without locking a wheel as he swooped on Magnussen on the first lap. He also exudes Hamilton-esque ease and confidence, with particular reference to 2007 again. This kid has one huge future ahead of him.

  2. SebV likes racking up those statistics, another fastest lap, just goes to show why points for fastest lap are not justified.

    1. you mean in series that do have that rule @hohum? I may have totally misunderstood your comment, but it seems like you’re saying F1 has it

      1. Negative, just saying F1 definitely does not need to adopt it. @zjacobs.

    2. Yeah… I don’t think Vettel liking statistics has anything to do with his fastest lap. More like him being on new softs with 7 places left to recover in 7 laps and thus having to drive the wheels off that car.

      1. If we used reality we couldn’t bash VET for making a FLAP just to increase his stats

  3. I really wish we can see more of RIC passing on the track as he did with ALO instead of seeing positions gained in the pits as he did with the 2 Williams, and I wish the same all through the field.

  4. “He was demoted by Kevin Magnussen and Fernando alonso, but an early pit stop for the McLaren driver handed one place back to Ricciardo”

    Ricciardo passed Magnussen on track, prior to the Dane pitting.

  5. Great driver, but today it was due to Williams’s unbelievable incompetence.
    When they called Bottas to the 2nd pit stop they handled Ricciardo 3rd place on a silver platter. And to make things worse Massa’s last pit was too long.

    They could’ve achieved better results like a 2nd on Austria and this today. May be that Smedley guy’s fault, as he is responsible for all strategies for the team.

    1. Mr win or lose
      3rd November 2014, 9:27

      True. Williams allowed Ricciardo to undercut one of their drivers twice. They should have finished 3rd and 4th or 3rd and 5th, not 4th and 5th.

    2. The weaknesses of Williams’ race strategy abilities has been the Achilles tendon for them in many races this season.

      Two significant things that I’ve not seen elsewhere about this battle for third in Austin are the significance of Williams running S, S, M tire strategy versus the S, M, M strategy of the podium finishers.

      In particular, note that Massa’s 2nd stint was 18 laps on (used) softs. No other driver ran as long a stint on softs (new or used) in this race.

      In contrast, Ricciardo’s 2nd stint was 17 laps on new mediums.

      This enabled a performance advantage for Ricciardo over Massa at the end of their 2nd stints.

      If we compare the last two laps at the end of each driver’s 2nd stint, we see that Ricciardo gained 1.5 secs on Massa:
      MAS – 1:44.365 – lap 31
      MAS – 1:45.079 – lap 32 ended in pit
      vs
      RIC – 1:43.873 – lap 30
      RIC – 1:44.194 – lap 31 ended in pit

      So RIC gained ~0.5 secs over MAS on the lap prior to the pit-in lap, (RIC lap 30 vs MAS lap 31). And RIC gained ~0.9 secs over MAS on their pit-in laps, (RIC lap 31 vs MAS lap 32).

      In addition, if we look at what Ricciardo did on his outlap, and we compare his outlap to those of Bottas and Massa, while removing the 1.2 secs for Massa’s longer pit-stop, we see that though all three were on new mediums, Ricciardo was ~0.5 secs faster than Bottas (not too relevant perhaps). When we remove the additional 1.2 secs for Massa’s longer pit-stop, Ricciardo was still ~0.3 secs faster than Massa on their out laps.

      In other words, Ricciardo was able to use his tires to gain a total of 1.7 secs in those three laps alone, (the lap prior to pit-in, the pit-in lap, and his pit-out lap). If we total Ricciardo’s on track gain of 1.7 secs with Williams performing 1.1 secs slower on Massa’s pit-stop (vs Ricciardo’s), then the total gain is 2.8 secs to pass for the position.

      A bad few laps for Massa and Williams… but it must be said, well executed by Ricciardo and Red Bull.

  6. Mr win or lose
    3rd November 2014, 9:36

    Why was Vettel so much faster after his first “regular” pitstop? In the first half of the race he was unable to do anything and in the second half he was flying. Given the car’s potential he should have finished at least 6th, but due to a crappy strategy (and a poor car setup?) he was nearly a lap behind.

  7. Ayrtonfan (@)
    3rd November 2014, 9:58

    If they gave out a trophy for the best overtaking highlights package of the year I think Dan would take it home!!

  8. What was Alonso doing in his last stint? He did a couple of fast laps, but in the other laps he was incredibly slow, doing 1:46 and 1:47. In the penultimate lap he did a 1:50.
    That explains why Vettel was able to cut the gap from 25 seconds to half a second in seven laps.

  9. On the lap times chart leave only Hamilton and Rosberg. Then zoom in the fragment bw two pit stops. Finally answer the question (let’s imagine you didn’t watch the race): at which lap Hamilton overtook Rosberg? Still nothing strange?

Comments are closed.