'Expect some s**t': Daniel Ricciardo's F1 warning over 'cheeky' act
Daniel Ricciardo has warned rival F1 drivers to 'expect a bit of s**t' if they continue to break a longstanding gentleman's agreement during qualifying.
Controversy erupted during qualifying for last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel penalised for blocking fellow former champ Fernando Alonso while the Alpine star was on a flying lap.
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However Vettel had only slowed and subsequently impeded Alonso because two other drivers, like him yet to start their flying laps, jumped ahead of him in the queue of drivers yet to set a fast lap.
The resultant 'carnage' as Vettel later put it, earned the German Aston Martin driver a three-place grid penalty for the race - despite FIA race director Michael Masi warning drivers not to jump the queue.
There had been an agreement between the drivers not to slow down during the crucial section between turns eight and nine, with Vettel penalised for slowing down in that area because he'd been overtaken by two other drivers, who did not earn a penalty.
"I’m slowing down, everybody jumping the queue and they all slow down between 9 and 10 where we agreed not to slow down. So if I get a penalty we should all get a penalty,” he said.
With a two-week break before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 19, it would seem F1's 20 drivers need to get on the same page - at least if Ricciardo's comments are anything to go by.
The Aussie ace called for drivers to show each other a little more respect for each other as they all looked to put in quick laps with limited space on track.
“I think at the end of day, like if someone’s been a bit cheeky and taken advantage of the situation that we’ve agreed, then that driver or those drivers should maybe just expect a bit of s**t to come their way at some point,” Ricciardo told motorsport.com.
“That’s the decision and the choice they make, so I’m happy for us to sort it out our own way.”
Ricciardo has been out-qualified by McLaren teammate Lando Norris, with the young Brit the only driver to have scored points in every race so far this season.
Max Verstappen leading F1 championship after dominant Austria display
Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen has claimed a hat-trick of wins with victory at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver's fifth win of the season extended his lead over title rival - seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton - to 32 points after nine races.
Hamilton dropped from second to fourth late in the race after going too wide on turn 10 at Spielberg's Red Bull Ring circuit and rolling over a kerb, damaging one of his tyres.
His Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas finished second ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, who clinched the fourth podium of his career on the same track where he secured his first last year.
The ultra-consistent Norris is the only driver to have scored points in every race this season.
Norris' teammate Daniel Ricciardo finished seventh.
Hamilton has not won since the Spanish Grand Prix two months ago, a dismal streak of five races for the defending champion.
All of those victories have gone to Red Bull, with Sergio Perez taking the other.
With AAP
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