In the round-up: Daniel Ricciardo described his Q2 elimination as a “mystery”
In brief
Ricciardo baffled by Q2 exit “mystery”
After RB driver Daniel Ricciardo failed to follow team mate Yuki Tsunoda through to Q3 in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he admitted he had no answer for why he could not match Tsunoda’s pace.
“It was a very frustrating qualifying,” Ricciardo said. “Compared to Bahrain, where I was more frustrated with myself because I knew there was more time on the table, today was a little bit more of a mystery.
“I was confident going into qualifying, and I was feeling quite good in the car, but on the second run, I made a mistake. Nonetheless, we were still in the fight. Once in Q2, everyone was improving their lap time, but I felt like I couldn’t get any more out of what I had, and we just plateaued. It wasn’t a matter of understeer or oversteer, but more that I didn’t have the grip compared to the others.”
F1 TV’s Winter addresses difficulties for women in F1
Journalist Laura Winter, who anchors F1 TV’s live coverage, discussed the discomfort she and many other women working in Formula 1 feel amid the ongoing controversy at Red Bull which continues to dominate headlines.Speaking on International Womens Day and the day of the opening round of the new F1 Academy season, Winter addressed viewers directly at the start of coverage of the final practice session, becoming the first figure on F1’s official channel to acknowledge the investigation into Red Bull team principal Christian Horner on air.
“After recent news stories and headlines, it has not been easy to be a woman working in Formula 1,” Winter said. “I’m certainly very proud to be standing here as a woman working in Formula 1, bringing you these shows and sharing this paddock as well with utterly brilliant women – from team personnel to fellow media and drivers too. All of whom should be celebrated today, but indeed every other day – as too should wonderful male allies who are helping us make this sport a better and more inclusive place.
“It is not lost on us that this opening round [of F1 Academy] is held in Saudi Arabia – a kingdom in which it was illegal for women to drive before 2018. To the women and girls in motorsport, to the huge and growing numbers of female fans in this sport, we are here to stay and we are right where we belong.”
Rosenqvist dramatically fastest in first IndyCar practice
New Meyer Shank driver Felix Rosenqvist was fastest by almost half a second in the opening practice session at St Petersburg yesterday. He produced a best of 1’00.3390 which put him 0.14 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Pato O’Ward. Another 0.47s covered the next 15 cars.
A new format was trialled in which all cars took to the track for the first 20 minutes, then the field was split into two equal-sized groups which took turns to share 10-minute blocks of running.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Andretti has crash-tested an F1 car even after series rejection, still interested in NASCAR (AP)
'Andretti Cadillac since the rejection has adopted a phrase that its work on the F1 project ''continues on pace'' and Andretti reiterated that Friday. He even said the team recently crash-tested the nose of an F1 car it has built.'
The Debrief: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Aston Martin)
Fernando Alonso: ''It's a nice surprise again to have a strong Qualifying in Jeddah. We are very competitive in one lap and our car is responding very well in Qualifying. I enjoyed every lap out there tonight. On my final push lap in Q3 I managed to take a tow from Lewis (Hamilton) onto the main straight but maybe I lost a tenth of a second into Turn 1, so in the end it balanced out over the lap.''
What IndyCar lacks that Formula 1 doesn’t (Tampa Bay Times)
Pato O'Ward ''It’s a pretty big deal to win an IndyCar race. There should be something that makes you feel like you’ve done something that’s a big deal. Think deeper. You’ve got to think outside the box.''
'Compared to F1, according to the article in question, hurdles have had to be navigated to get any access with producers left continually frustrated by the lack of access to top names and also having to jump through hoops to film content. As a result, the cameras have stopped rolling aside from a sudden upturn in viewing figures.'
Maloney looking to repeat Sprint race fightback to points in Jeddah feature (F2)
''In terms of making the moves, it was just really about being confident in myself and being confident in the package that we have. The car has been fast all year. Yesterday was unfortunate but we made up for it today and we’ll try to do the same tomorrow.''
Zhou Guanyu's FP3 crash (Tigerbear62 via YouTube)
A fan at the Jeddah circuit captured this angle of Zhou Guanyu's practice crash.
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.
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Social media
Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
International Women’s Day is difficult for me – five years ago on this day I was attacked & escaped an abusive relationship. I feel a huge duty and pressure to do something & so I was incredibly grateful and moved to be able to say these words on air.
Thank you for watching 🩷 pic.twitter.com/qPoDS4ZIpj
— Laura Winter (@lauracwinter) March 8, 2024
|@Max33Verstappen's press conference correction:
Q: …taking his first pole position in Jeddah, and the 56th of his F1 career, Max Verstappen. Many congratulations…
MV. 34. It's 55 wins.
Q: Thank you for the correction. Sorry. Maybe I'm pre-empting tomorrow.#F1 pic.twitter.com/UByWLAooj4
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) March 8, 2024
In a strong position for tomorrow 💪 debriefing an eventful Quali Day with @Charles_Leclerc#SaudiArabianGP #F1 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/yie6lO1kDb
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 8, 2024
As part of #InternationalWomensDay, Anna Saad from our aerodynamics department, spoke to female students at a STEM event at @aisedusa in Jeddah about her journey from growing up in Saudi Arabia to joining an F1 team and what career paths are open to them.#HaasF1 @USConsulateJed pic.twitter.com/VfxMhEYO6s
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 8, 2024
That was a fun one, first Q3 of the year!
今年初めてのQ3進出でP9！ハイスピードサーキットでかなり楽しめました！明日頑張ります💪 pic.twitter.com/vuI7FYbSSQ
— 角田裕毅/Yuki Tsunoda (@yukitsunoda07) March 8, 2024
The Christian Horner controversy continues to dominate the front pages of British newspapers during the second grand prix weekend of the season.#F1 #SaudiArabianGP #RaceFans pic.twitter.com/HrNIIM1AIm
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) March 8, 2024
Hi there, Twitter world. I'm delighted to announce that I've joined @WilliamsRacing as Aerodynamics Project Leader. Thrilled to be back in Formula 1 and help the team fight for big things. I can't wait to give the big cheeses a run for their money. Wait and see.
— Ivan Roldan (@ivanlda) March 8, 2024
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Heading into another Saturday grand prix, David finds the offset schedule for the start of the season hasn’t worked for them…
This is the first time that I’ve failed to watch the qualifying for a grand prix on two successive weekends.
I can’t watch live, I’m still at work. By the time I have time, news sites and social media have informed me of the results. So, what’s the point?
I didn’t even watch the full GP last week, and that’s the first time I’ve not bothered deliberately and only watched the highlights.
So, well done F1. Friday qualifying and Saturday races just don’t work.
David
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Alpinestar, Venturi Effect, Cdmracing and Guillaume Blanchet!
S
9th March 2024, 0:49
I can’t imagine being so shallow as to not watch a race simply because I already know the results, as CotD describes.
Sure, F1 isn’t as interesting as it has been or could be – but blaming the schedule and inability to curb one’s social media addiction is a pretty poor (or desperate) excuse IMO.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
9th March 2024, 1:30
From same upside-down country as Dan, so a bit of affinity there.
Thought there was something weird at McLaren (besides Brown).
Got a car that suited went OK.
Broken hand, hit by tyre ,something in radiator, neither his fault, followed by nondescript qualies.
Sometimes something is just sending you a message.
It’s a tap on the shoulder from me.
Oscar’s mum can take over the comedy relief.
(At MotoGp.
Oh no you don’t Oscar Jack Piastri, Get away from that motorbike!).
Thanks but time to go.
Tristan
9th March 2024, 2:31
Oh where have we heard this “mystery” lack of grip story before… I’m not even sure what he’s trying to say, is he actually suggesting an external factor is making him slow, or is it just his way of saying I was slow without having to actually say it?
Would respect him more if he just said he wasn’t on his game, needs to stop inventing reasons for being slow. It’s not a mystery at all.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
9th March 2024, 2:43
+1
I think that’s what I was trying to say but in a more convoluted and “final” way.
Yours works better.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
9th March 2024, 3:27
I was looking for an article about ricciardo to say that he might get to grip with tsunoda maybe, but tsunoda has never looked like a red bull calibre driver, so no matter what perez does, it looks to me like ricciardo will never be good enough again to get back to red bull, he’s not the driver he once was, just like vettel.
Also last season some people were talking down tsunoda since he had more exp, he’s japanese etc., but like I said, he ended up outperforming all 3 team mates he had, so he might not be good enough for red bull but he’s the most deserving of his place there, though I think lawson did well enough to get a full time seat.
Erkr
9th March 2024, 7:15
Tsunoda has more of a chance at the red bull seat than Lawson or Ricciardo ever has
S
9th March 2024, 5:20
You could also interpret “I didn’t have enough grip” as ‘the team didn’t get my setup right for the conditions.’
Or you could just pretend that the driver actually makes all the difference by themselves, I guess… Whatever.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
9th March 2024, 8:57
What he’s saying is he doesn’t know why he was slow. In the previous race he was out qualified, but he felt the pace was in the car and he just didn’t put the lap together. This weekend, he just never found the grip in the car. This is quite a common comment from drivers these days, and is possibly related to the temperamental nature of the Pirelli tyres. Jenson Button famously used to complain of ‘no grip’ all the time when he was struggling relative to Hamilton.
So, I don’t see Ricciardo’s comments as complaining about something nefarious, more just making an honest comment that on this occasion he can’t explain his lack of pace.
Nathaniel
9th March 2024, 2:37
Sorry David from the top comment but the entire fan base of F1 doesn’t exist in the UK or even on a similar timezone offset to the UK. I’m in Australia and the 1 day offset has been great for me. If we could have the same for the Americas that would be awesome though I understand it wont happen.
Tristan
9th March 2024, 2:44
I guess that’s true, nice at least having the option of staying up until the wee hours of the night without work on the Monday… Personally I was half asleep for qually at these hours anyway so it’s a bit pointless.
Still hilarious that the race with the best time for us across the entire calendar is Vegas…
AlanD
9th March 2024, 2:45
Nathaniel, I am in the UK and think the Friday qually and Saturday race works better too. This idea that F1 has to be held on a Sunday is so old-fashioned.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
9th March 2024, 3:19
Yes Nathaniel!
I’m a member of the 1am winter Monday morning F1 viewer club too.
If I could figure out the forum thing I’d like a where are you watching from question.
I did do a post once but never could find it again. Sigh.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
9th March 2024, 5:42
Indeed. F1 is supposed to be a world chamionship, and whilst I acknowledge that the F1 fanbase is not spread evenly across the globe, it is rather selfish to suggest that
when the vast majority of races are likely in the OP’s window of convenience.
Does he also complain to his supermarket management that they should take all the food he doesnt like of the shelf, because that doesnt work – for him – either.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
9th March 2024, 9:12
Now that I am retired the Thursday/Saturday weekend works well for me.
If I was still working then I would be angry as hell with it.
Everything is subjective I suppose.
David (@nvherman)
9th March 2024, 10:08
@nathaniel Just remember that this website _is_ UK based, and indeed evolved from f1fanatic.co.uk.
So, no one should be surprised by the large UK contingent on here.
Also, 70% of current F1 teams are based here, within 100 miles of where I live.
Jere (@jerejj)
9th March 2024, 5:23
The unusual Thursday-Saturday pattern was simply a must for both events because FOM (& FIA) decided to schedule them for these weeks rather than each a week earlier.
For me, personally, I haven’t minded, although I’m still happy that this offset pattern won’t re-occur for a littlee while.
Jay
9th March 2024, 6:44
It’s not hard to stay away from spoilers, I’ve done it for years. The only person to blame for being spoiled is the person themselves. Staying away from news and social for what, half a day? If you can’t do that, seek help immediately!
notagrumpyfan
9th March 2024, 9:27
Easy indeed.
I use F1TV (and VPN) and even delay for convenience reasons. Yesterday I started 10 min late as I was busy, and then conveniently scrolled through the red flag period.
When busy with something else I don’t hear the news anyway, and when driving I don’t listen to the radio or at least skip the news bulletins.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
9th March 2024, 11:33
I have to agree. I don’t have Sky in the U.K. so I rely on watching C4 highlights of quali, races, etc. These are always on TV a long time after the actual event so I have to avoid tv/radio news and socials. It doesn’t always work but it’s a bit of a weak argument.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
10th March 2024, 20:01
Jay, the ability to avoid spoilers depends on several factors, including the exact details of how work operates. In my case, spoiler avoidance is difficult because I work in a job that requires the Edge browser for certain tasks, and where the organisation policy is for the home page and new tab page to be Edge’s default. Well… Edge’s default “home page” and “new tab” pages both display news, which rotates whether one wishes it to or not, and often includes F1 spoilers.
So for many people who work in office jobs, the only way to avoid spoilers would be to take the day (or days, in the case of a Thursday-Saturday weekend) off work – which isn’t always possible due to rules each workplace has about when and how these can be taken.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
10th March 2024, 20:03
(Also, the Edge default is the Edge default in most countries in the world, so avoiding spoilers for midweek events is emphatically not the UK-only issue some people in the comments appear to think it is).
MCG (@malrg)
9th March 2024, 8:05
I am a Ricciardo fan, super guy, but I am afraid I already believe this will be his last season in F1. the good guy image is not enough, I think he is done.
Mayrton
9th March 2024, 8:32
He seems to be baffled a lot. Expectations are too high wrt Ricciardo.
HUHHII (@huhhii)
9th March 2024, 8:53
Really stupid take by RaceFans to raise that comment as COTD. There is a whole wide world outside of this tiny little islands called United Kingdom you know. Really annoying how UK-centric this site is.
As for Danny Ric, yeah that seat is going to waste. They should’ve stick with Lawson. Ricciardo hasn’t shown any talent for the last 3 years so can’t understand how he was gifted a seat
David (@nvherman)
9th March 2024, 10:06
@huhhii Just remember that this website _is_ UK based, and indeed evolved from f1fanatic.co.uk.
So, no one should be surprised by the large UK contingent on here.
Also, 70% of current F1 teams are based here, within 100 miles of where I live.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
9th March 2024, 12:19
@nvherman Not surprised at all by the large UK contingent here. Many are quite knowledgeable, being aware that a total of 30 British Grands Prix alone have been held on Saturday.
Toodle pip
notagrumpyfan
9th March 2024, 9:14
I think he meant ‘christianophobic’; you know, Sunday as day of rest and not even being allowed to mow the lawn ;)
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
9th March 2024, 9:23
The only reason the Red Bull thing is dominating the tabloids over here is because it involves a Spice Girl.
The vast majority of people in the UK have no idea who Horner is and couldn’t care less about it all.
But almost every middle-aged person in this country grew up with the Spice Girls being rammed down their throats Morning, Noon and Night by the exact same media who are now squeezing every last penny they can out of this story.
Then again, perhaps we should really blame the weak-minded drones who lap this stuff up?
And as for Danny Ric … just retire gracefully man, it’s getting embarrassing.
notagrumpyfan
9th March 2024, 9:31
But why on this F1/racing site.
Even from the Laura Winter transcript it seems she was talking about being in Saudi Arabia rather than talking about RBR as presented by Will Wood in the heading.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
9th March 2024, 9:41
I can only suggest that the actual on track action this season is going to be so dull and predictable that sites like this are going to need these side stories to pad out the content ;)
notagrumpyfan
9th March 2024, 10:36
I’d pay big money if this site were to go back to (F1) racing stories only.
I guess many F1 fans can still enjoy the fights for places 2-20. We haven’t had a season with those positions so close.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
10th March 2024, 20:05
Laura alluded to RBR, however F1 would probably not have approved anything that specifically pinpointed RBR because it would like to avoid that issue specifically while acknowledging the concerns of many viewers.
MichaelN
9th March 2024, 12:20
It’s just what works in the market. In the Netherlands it’s “Max’ boss”, in the UK it’s “Geri devastated!” (as if she doesn’t know how she got this man in the first place), and in Germany it’s all about “Marko und Red Bull Teamchef”.
Gary
9th March 2024, 9:35
I don’t know why Danny Ric is baffled about. He lost in qualifying to Tsunoda last year and was flattered in Mexico when Tsunoda had an engine penalty. Danny Ric 5 tenths behind de Vries dropped for being 6 tenths back. Will Ric see out the year?
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
9th March 2024, 11:45
I think there seems to be this urgency by some to write off Daniel completely. It’s not like he’s that slow compared to the rest of the field but it is worrying that he just cannot seem to get the final 5% out of this car or any of them consistently.
I don’t want to give up on him. But maybe he does need to consider his future in F1. Perhaps he should try a different racing series?