Ricciardo fastest after Verstappen crashes in final practice

50 comments on “Ricciardo fastest after Verstappen crashes in final practice”

1. 

   hahostolze (@hahostolze)
   26th May 2018, 12:09

   He really is a bit of an idiot, isn’t he?
   1. 

      Osella-AlfaRomeo (@osella-alfaromeo)
      26th May 2018, 12:15

      an idiot on his way to pole position?
      1. 

         Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
         26th May 2018, 12:20

         On sky they said there’s damage to chassis. If that’s true he won’t be able to participate in qualifying…
         1. 

            Jere (@jerejj)
            26th May 2018, 12:31

            @jeffreyj Shouldn’t be as the front-end of the car didn’t get that much physical damage in the end. The front-end got more damage from his Bahrain GP qualifying crash, for example, and no monocoque change, and the same with Bottas’ crash in Melbourne qualifying, so I’d be a bit surprised in a way if it (the change of monocoque) were to be done, but on the other hand, not so much since at times the teams seem to be extremely eager to change it even for the smallest of exterior damage even with plenty enough time to fix it without a change before the parc ferme rule comes into effect.
      2. 

         John Toad (@)
         26th May 2018, 12:22

         You’re assuming that the team can repair the car in time for qualifying, which is not a certainty.
   2. 

      Nick (@nick101)
      26th May 2018, 13:36

      I hate Verstappen and love to see him crash out over and over again, but even I feel a bit sorry for him now! lol
2. 

   marcelh
   26th May 2018, 12:15

   How long will RBR tolerate Max and all of his mistakes? 4 years and still he refuses to learn.
   They will never become World Champion when Max only races in the moment and doesn’t take the big picture in account.
   1. 

      Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
      26th May 2018, 12:24

      It can’t be too long. This is just unacceptable.

      In Dutch media they are saying Hartley’s seat is under pressure, but they didn’t know who could fill the seat. I think we have found a candidate. Sainz is on loan at Renault so he can be recalled immediately.
   2. 

      Robbie (@robbie)
      26th May 2018, 12:26

      Or…RBR will not be Champions with this car, as they sit alone in third in the WCC, likely for the season, but at least they’ve got a couple of great drivers pushing each other, the big picture being they have little to lose in going for it, until they actually have a WCC capable car.
      1. 

         krxx
         26th May 2018, 12:34

         Broken record. Talking about being in denial.
      2. 

         TFLB (@tflb)
         26th May 2018, 12:35

         @robbie But they do have a car capable of at least worrying Mercedes and Ferrari in the WCC, and would be right up there if Verstappen hadn’t been so rubbish so far.
         1. 

            Robbie (@robbie)
            26th May 2018, 12:47

            I would say the odds are quite high that RBR will not be a worry for Ferrari or Mercedes in the WCC. If you want to conveniently substitute for better points from Max if he wasn’t ‘rubbish’ then substitute some of the issues for Merc and Ferrari too in fairness, or change the timing of safety cars, and we’d still see RBR alone in third unable to do much about Ferrari and Mercedes, other than in the odd race, while teams below RBR will not be able to touch them.
            1. 

               Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
               26th May 2018, 13:06

               They are not a worry to Merc and Ferrari because Max cost them big points in Australia, China, Bahrain and Baku. Over those for Red Bull lost over 50 points easily, which would have put them right in between Ferrari and Mercedes….
            2. 

               anon
               26th May 2018, 15:48

               @robbie, as @jeffreyj notes, had it not been for the points that the team have been losing in the past few races – Baku alone cost the team 32 points – they’d be pretty close to the leading teams.

               After all, if they had not collided in Baku, then Red Bull would have scored pretty much the same as Ferrari (with Kimi back in 6th, Ferrari were on to score 33 points versus 32 for Red Bull); that alone would put them on 112 points, whilst Ferrari would be on 129 (a considerably closer gap).

               In China, he should have had a pretty comfortable podium finish, and possibly won the race, but instead cost the team 8 points there: meanwhile, with Vettel looking at 4th and Kimi 6th, Ferrari arguably would have only scored 1 point more if Verstappen hadn’t had his incidents, meaning Red Bull would have gained more out of a clean race than Ferrari would (putting Red Bull on 120 points to 130 for Ferrari).

               Whilst I wouldn’t say that Max is being rubbish, he is making more pressure for himself than is really necessary – there is only so much benefit in letting both drivers “go for it” if Max ends up putting himself under so much pressure that it starts to adversely impact on his performance (and there is perhaps an argument that we are starting to see that happen).
      3. 

         marcelh
         26th May 2018, 12:56

         RBR is there to become WC, they will do everything to improve the car. What will they do with a driver that doesn’t improve? Hint they are not in it for just letting Max play around, think what happened to Daniil Kvyat.
         1. 

            rick2k9 (@rick2k9)
            26th May 2018, 13:31

            I think what we are seeing with Max is a driver that is very talented and is trying to really push for any extra performance he can find. Lately he’s been pushing a bit too much which has resulted in crashes. I would argue that the recent accidents are simply a sign of him pushing harder to find extra time. When you’re really pushing what the car can do you will make more mistakes. He’ll continue to improve. He’s still only 20 years old.
            1. 

               marcelh
               26th May 2018, 13:49

               The issue is that he hasn’t improved in 4 year. He is still the same guy that doesn’t look further than the tip of his car. As a person he only has two gears first and eight, he needs needs get second to seventh as well in order to win races and world championship.
            2. 

               Ju88sy (@ju88sy)
               26th May 2018, 14:55

               @rick2k9 Max is 21 this year, in his fourth full F1 season, hopefully this is a blip in his development, but currently even if the Red Bull was a championship winning car he doesn’t look like he could put together a championship season despite his undoubted pace. My money would be on Ricciardo to beat him again over the course of a season.
   3. 

      stefan
      26th May 2018, 14:45

      He is not 4 years a full-time driver and the first two years he dit really well and the third he was pretty unlucky. Most DNF’s where not his fault. The current year is a different story so many mistakes don’t know what has happened. If he had driven like this in his first year it would be surely been his last. Hope he will get his act together other wise he will join kvyat…
3. 

   Sam (@crunch)
   26th May 2018, 12:18

   How will the media spin this one?
   1. 

      Nitzo (@webtel)
      26th May 2018, 12:23

      @crunch

      Dont’ think they need to spin this. Mere stating of the truth would do.
   2. 

      Ryan
      26th May 2018, 12:27

      They’re already trying to lay the blame at Hulkenberg “distracting” him when he went round the previous corner
   3. 

      krxx
      26th May 2018, 12:27

      How will the f-boys spin this one?
   4. 

      [TR]
      26th May 2018, 12:40

      They will ask Grosjean to write the articles.
      1. 

         Ben (@x-f1-x)
         26th May 2018, 13:11

         You win the Internet today my friend 😂
      2. 

         petebaldwin (@petebaldwin)
         26th May 2018, 13:50

         :D I agree with Macca Fan.
4. 

   Markos
   26th May 2018, 12:19

   Even as a Verstappen enthousiast I can only say this was just plain stupid.
   1. 

      Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
      26th May 2018, 12:33

      frustration is the biggest part of the criticism. You could tell he was throwing the front end better than anyone, pole was his, over eager, his style looks a lot like Michael, that front end. Like last time he crashed there, he turned too well into the corner.
      1. 

         Markos
         26th May 2018, 12:42

         You are right.
5. 

   Gary
   26th May 2018, 12:25

   Very impressive by Torro Rosso, and in particular Hartley surprises. Torro Rosso chassis works here, where Honda lawnmower engine is less of a constraint.

   Very unimpressive by McLaren.

   Very impressive by Sirotkin and Williams. Very unimpressive by £д₦¢€ $₮₹0££
   1. 

      Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
      26th May 2018, 12:35

      So many currencies. Isn’t it ironic that on a track this challenging this driver relevant, the grid is 8 cars team by team.
   2. 

      Webber fan
      26th May 2018, 12:55

      McLaren must be pleased they ditched the Honda engines for Renault this year. Toro Rosso got the short end of that deal.
6. 

   Ryan
   26th May 2018, 12:25

   The first time in a long time, perhaps actually the first time, that Vandoorne has out-performed Alonso through all the practice sessions. Maybe he is finally starting to wake up to the fact that he has to perform to keep his drive for next year with talented drivers both out of contract and in-house waiting for a seat.
7. 

   HK (@me4me)
   26th May 2018, 12:28

   If Red Bull can repair Verstappens car so that he can participate in qualifying and thus race at the front on sunday, all will be forgotten fairly quickly. But if not and he’ll start last and cannot bring home good points then I think even Red Bull will start to put pressure on Max. Verstappen has already cost the team a great amount of points so far this season. Its not acceptable anymore.
   1. 

      Robbie (@robbie)
      26th May 2018, 12:32

      It is what it is, but costed points or not RBR will be alone in third for the season for the WCC.
8. 

   Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
   26th May 2018, 12:30

   This is RBR’s chance and crash is neither helping 33 or the team. Mechanics will have a hard time to repair the car in time. Hartley and Sirotkin did a good job in the session.
9. 

   Blazzz
   26th May 2018, 12:42

   http://crashstappen.com.
   Nuff said.

   Daniel RIC for pole and seems the Mercs are struggling.
   1. 

      Blazzz
      26th May 2018, 12:44

      On a similar note I wonder how much Max costs RBR in repair bills. Must be an eyewatering amount at this stage surely?
10. 

    Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
    26th May 2018, 13:03

    Verstappen is like a poker player on tilt this year. Still has the speed but so many unnecessary mistakes, one after another. Seems like he is trying to prove himself in every session rather than just getting on with the job, which means holding back on occasions. Still, if they can get the car fixed with no grid penalties it’s between him and Ricciardo for pole if they both get decent laps in.
11. 

    Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
    26th May 2018, 13:03

    Maxtor Crashstappen strikes again.

    If only Pastor was still in F1.
12. 

    GnosticBrian (@gnosticbrian)
    26th May 2018, 13:04

    Boy wonder crashes – again! Every race weekend thus far this season.
    1. 

       Gary
       26th May 2018, 13:12

       One problem is the kid has never had to pay the repair bills for one of his crashes, ever.
13. 

    JohnH (@johnrkh)
    26th May 2018, 13:13

    Verstappen is a very quick driver on his day…..but he seems to be lacking the ability to maintain that speed over successive laps and maintain control. As I have said before in my opinion Ricciardo is the more mature more rounded driver.
    Verstappens spectacular and popular (with some) crash or crash through style is not applicable to F1.
    1. 

       Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
       26th May 2018, 13:28

       Fixed

       Pastor is a very quick driver on his day…..but he seems to be lacking the ability to maintain that speed over successive laps and maintain control (…) Maldonado’s spectacular and popular (with some) crash or crash through style is not applicable to F1.
       1. 

          JohnH (@johnrkh)
          26th May 2018, 21:07

          Interesting that you would directly compare Verstappen with Maldonado. Imagine them together in the same team? Perhaps Maldonado could put in a good word for Verstappen and get him a seat in the LMP2 It would save him the humiliation being dropped back into Torro Rosso.
    2. 

       petebaldwin (@petebaldwin)
       26th May 2018, 13:47

       @johnrkh Sure but the answer to why Verstappen isn’t very consistent, mature or well rounded is that he is 20 years old. He’s a month older than Leclerc and a year older than Stroll – he’s younger than everyone else. Ricciardo is 8 years older than Max – I would expect that with another 8 seasons under his belt, Max should mature a little and become considerably more consistent.
       1. 

          anon
          26th May 2018, 15:53

          @petebaldwin, in some ways, that isn’t necessarily a favourable comparison for Verstappen if Leclerc is the same age as him and is winning plaudits for his maturity and smart driving over at Sauber.
          1. 

             krxx
             26th May 2018, 17:27

             Furthermore, while the age difference is 8 years, the GP-experience difference is just 3 or 3.5 seasons/years. That’s of more importance than age here. Also, if you look at other drivers and what they did in their first 66 GP, you’d find they didn’t have as many ‘incidents’ as MV. And Pastor was 26-31 years old. I reckon it’s a combination of at least ‘intrinsic’ traits, experience and age.
14. 

    Michael (@cavman99)
    26th May 2018, 14:38

    @keithcollantine, FP1 times seem incorrect. Riccardo was fastest…
15. 

    Maciek (@maciek)
    26th May 2018, 15:00

    Really wish we could have seen Kubica in a Williams here to have three way comparison. Way to go for Sirotkin though, good on him.

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