F1 Spanish Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo and VCARB licking their wounds after ‘poor weekend’

So far as weekends go, this was one to neglect for Daniel Ricciardo and all the Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce.

Whereas VCARB arrived at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hopeful {that a} collection of upgrades to the RB01 would unlock extra efficiency, from the opening laps of FP1 it was clear that they’d be on the again foot. That continued into qualifying — which noticed Ricciardo and teammate Yuki Tsunoda eradicated in Q1 — and prolonged into the race itself. Each Ricciardo and Tsunoda completed outdoors the factors, leaving VCARB to lick their wounds after their first points-less weekend because the Chinese language Grand Prix again in April.

Workforce Principal Laurent Mekies was blunt in his evaluation.

“We got here right here with excessive hopes for the upgrades that everybody again within the manufacturing unit has labored so exhausting to design and produce as a part of our aggressive improvement technique, started Mekies within the group’s post-race report. “Sadly, proper from the beginning of Free Apply we had been missing tempo in each session.

“There is no such thing as a level denying this was a poor weekend for us and though the gaps had been very small, we’re not going to make excuses for the actual fact we simply weren’t aggressive,” continued the VCARB boss. “Given our beginning positions, it will have required some uncommon circumstances – rain, a security automotive – however the race was fairly linear and whereas each drivers did their finest, we go away Spain with nothing to point out for our efforts.”

Tsunoda stored his evaluation quick and to the purpose.

“It was a tricky race, through which I struggled. The dealing with of the automotive was positively not straightforward, and I didn’t really feel as snug as I usually do,” described Tsunoda. “One thing wasn’t fairly proper, and we’ll analyse the whole lot that occurred to know what didn’t work effectively and are available again stronger in Austria.”

Picture by Peter Fox/Getty Photographs

Ricciardo, usually the optimistic one within the group’s storage, did his finest to place a constructive spin on issues. The Australian driver managed to focus on some vivid spots on a dismal day in Barcelona.

“It’s clearly disappointing ending in P15, however I’m pleased with my race and the way we managed it as a group with the 2 stops. I feel yesterday I simply missed a contact in qualifying, however actually, as we speak I really feel like I [maximized] it with race,” described Ricciardo. “We managed the [tires] and pushed after we wanted to, so sadly, I feel we simply didn’t have extra to point out this weekend. There’s definitely heaps to be taught from weekends like this.

“We take a number of little positives and some extra issues to work on as a result of we appear to be lacking one thing with the brand new bundle. It’s a fast turnaround, so we’ll work on it tonight, making an attempt to know extra in preparation for Austria subsequent week.”

The VCARB boss concluded with a little bit of a problem to the group.

“Now, our complete group faces a stern take a look at to attempt to make some progress within the only a few days accessible till we’re again on observe on the Pink Bull Ring,” mentioned Mekies. “It’s a really lengthy season, so there are certain to be some powerful weekends. We simply must put this one behind us, we should not get downhearted however as an alternative, look forward and deal with combating again instantly in a number of days’ time in Austria.”

Fortunately for the group, they won’t have an excessive amount of time to lick these wounds, as Pink Bull Ring awaits.