- Malaysian Grand Prix
Ricciardo handed 10-place grid penalty
Daniel Ricciardo's miserable afternoon at Sepang has been compounded by news he will receive a ten-place penalty in Bahrain after an unsafe release during a botched pit stop at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Ricciardo looked good for fourth behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel when he came in for fresh option tyres on lap 42, but was released without his front left tyre being attached properly. Ricciardo was handed a ten-second stop/go penalty during the race, but still falls foul of the FIA in the post-race for the second grand prix in a row. After the race Ricciardo admitted he had been enjoying fighting at the front again and that he does not intend to stop after Malaysia.
"I definitely feel disappointed," he said. "It was looking like we could have a solid points finish and the race was going pretty well. The start was really good, I made a couple of positions and was starting to mix it up at the front is nice. It's fun being up there fighting for the top few spots. But then the last pit stop we had the issue, then we had a puncture, a front wing failure and a few other things went on before the stop/go so the race ended pretty quickly for us from looking good to looking bad in a short space of time. Deep down I'm disappointed but there's a little bit in me which is happy because I think I've come out in these two races how I wanted to. Obviously I still want to improve but we've started off on the right foot. I know a little bit of luck will turn things around soon, I can get my revenge and get some points soon."
Ricciardo had a flying start, diving past Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel at the first corner, and he conceded he is more than happy for people to write him off because of his happy-go-lucky persona.
"A lot of people probably don't expect it because I'm always the happy guy and smiling, and think I'm too nice for that. I love racing up at the front. It's been a privilege but a lot of fun in the last couple of rounds. It's a bit addicting; I want more, so you'll see me up there plenty of times this year."
The unsafe release breaches Article 23.12c of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, which states a a stop/go penalty and grid penalty for the next race should be enforced. Red Bull remains under investigation by the stewards as a member of its team was observed to not be wearing protective headgear during Ricciardo's stop.
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