• Japanese Grand Prix

Ricciardo fumes at 130R penalty

ESPN Staff
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Daniel Ricciardo was penalised for his pass on Adrian Sutil © Getty Images
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Daniel Ricciardo was left furious after being penalised during the Japanese Grand Prix and eventually finishing outside of the points.

Having completed a long first stint on hard tyres, Ricciardo was making progress back through the field after his first stop when he attempted to overtake Adrian Sutil around the outside of 130R. Ricciardo ran very wide on the exit of the corner but stayed ahead of the Force India and was subsequently penalised with a drive-through penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Having been outspoken on team radio after the incident - asking his team "Before I go off and kill somebody, was it for the move in Turn 15?" - Ricciardo said the penalty "ruined his race".

"I am disappointed not to have scored some points today, because I am convinced I was heading for the top ten, which would have been an encouraging result, after struggling with the balance of the car on Saturday," Ricciardo said. "We started on the Hard tyre and after I made a good start to move up two places, it was looking good as I passed Bottas on the track and moved up the order as those on the Medium pitted ahead of me.

"I was moving up the order again after my first stop and then I made a move on the outside of Sutil at the 130R and got past him. But after that, I ran wide onto the grass, which lost me a bit of time. Sadly, the Stewards decided I had gained an advantage by going off the track and had to take a drive-through penalty, which of course ruined my race. I was ninth when I came in for the penalty and it dropped me down outside the points."

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost also felt his driver had been harshly treated.

"Daniel had a clearer start, moving up two places right away and kept out of traffic," he said. "Then, well after he passed Sutil, he ran wide onto the gravel, losing time. However, the Stewards decided he had gained an advantage. He therefore had to come in for the drive-through penalty, that cost him a top ten finish."

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