Daniel Ricciardo counters "Nico Vlogsberg" Baku pit slating

Ricciardo and Rosberg — Photo: © LAT Images

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Ricciardo counters "Nico Vlogsberg" Baku pit slating

Ricciardo shares the paddock nickname for 2016 champion Rosberg

Sam Hall

Tuesday 8 June 2021 18:13

Daniel Ricciardo has countered comments from 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg that the Azerbaijan pitlane entry is the "most dangerous" on the F1 calendar instead labelling it "fun".

In a video on his YouTube channel, Rosberg commented of the pit entry: "On the left, there’s just a wall, and it’s facing you, so if something breaks and you’re in that wall, it’s the end and there’s no more you."

The former Mercedes driver added that "to go by there just feels ridiculously wrong" but despite the danger, McLaren's Ricciardo expressed a vastly differing opinion whilst revealing Rosberg's paddock nickname.

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“It’s quite like a fun pit entry actually," said the Australian. "It’s quite intense because you come at such high speed and then you’ve got a chicane. It’s one of the more entertaining ones so I’m okay with it."

With his trademark smile, Ricciardo then added: “Obviously, I just get a giggle when I hear - when you said ‘Nico Rosberg with the vlog’, I hear in my head ‘Nico Vlogsberg’.

"I don’t know if you’ve heard that nickname for him but it makes me chuckle.”

Azerbaijan pit entry will never be "100 per cent safe"

Facing the media alongside his team-mate, Lando Norris conceded there are few options available to improve safety with the 200mph-plus approach to the pit entry.

“It’s a tricky one," pondered Norris. "I don’t know what else can really be done. It’s a tricky one when you’re going at such a high speed.

"No matter what, I think things are going to be dangerous at such a high speed, that’s the way motorsport is sometimes.

“I don’t know if they can move the whole thing to the left and there’s more space to come into the pit lane or something.

“Unless something is very different, I don’t think there are many ways to make it 100 per cent safe. I think there is always something which isn’t going to be perfect but I don’t think it is a problem.

"I don’t think much needs to change, to be honest, but I’m not the best guy for thinking of these kinds of things. That’s not my job."