Daniel Ricciardo encountered a technical issue that led to a jump start, adversely affecting his race performance. His car, the VCRB01, moved forward before the lights went off, resulting in a penalty. Ricciardo was puzzled by this infraction, stating, “It was weird because I got told I had a five-second penalty for a jump start, but I know I didn’t jump the lights, so I was a bit confused.”
Further investigation revealed the issue stemmed from a malfunction rather than driver error. Ricciardo recalled feeling the car moving while he was finding the revs for the start, suggesting a clutch problem. This was later confirmed by his race engineer, Pierre Hamelin, complicating his efforts right from the beginning.
The Canadian Grand Prix presented additional challenges beyond the start. Ricciardo struggled with car handling, especially around Turn 1, where he described the experience as “drift city.” He remembered Lewis Hamilton passing him effortlessly, likening his own handling to “Tokyo-ing it.” The race became even more challenging when rain necessitated a change in tire strategy, causing Ricciardo to lose track position.
Despite these difficulties, Ricciardo showcased resilience and strategic acumen. After initial setbacks and penalties, he made effective strategic moves, which paid off as the race progressed. Reflecting on his performance, Ricciardo said, “I felt like the race was kind of getting away from us, but then with the slick at the end, we managed to claw our way back past some cars and get, fortunately, a nice little bag of points. So all in all, happy.”
Ricciardo emphasized the importance of maintaining a combative spirit and psychological resilience. “I think that little energy, probably a little bit of a chip on my shoulder I brought into the weekend, I’ve got to make sure that stays there and just keep that level of intensity,” he remarked. “I don’t know if I need to be a bit angry or just get my testosterone up, but I think it helps me.”
