Ricciardo warns F1 wins may lose value with reverse grids

Daniel Ricciardo fears the value of a grand prix victory may be diminished if reverse grids are used to artificially shake up the order.

Formula 1 managing director motorsports Ross Brawn has been open in his desire to see the sport at least trial reverse-grid qualifying races.

While the idea was shelved before the start of the season after Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff voted against, what unfolded during the Italian Grand Prix reopened the discussion.

"It’s tough because we want more exciting races," said Renault driver Ricciardo.

"But it’s still Formula 1 and I think everyone holding the big trophy, it should hold a certain value and maybe that would be diminished somewhat with a reversed grid.”

While there are some, like Brawn, in favour of at least trialling the concept, Ricciardo is firmly in the camp that does not want to see the sport move away from the organic, meritocracy of the current format.

He explained: “Personally, my fear with going down this direction is like, you see the last few races we’ve had some red flags and it's mixed up the field at times and that’s been really exciting but that’s also been organic.

“There’s been incidents in the race and that has been the outcome of the situation. I’m just worried that if we had it in an artificial way and mix up the field, every driver is then getting an F1 win. Does the value of an F1 win then hold what it does today?"

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