Daniel Ricciardo 'thanks' Lance Stroll for race-ruining blunder

Ricciardo in Hungary — Photo: © LAT Images

Hungarian Grand Prix

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Ricciardo 'thanks' Stroll for race-ruining blunder

Stroll was adjudged to have caused a second incident at turn one

Sam Hall

Monday 2 August 2021 13:53

Daniel Ricciardo has sarcastically 'thanked' Lance Stroll for causing a lap-one collision that ruined his Hungarian Grand Prix.

Ricciardo started 11th and progressed through the order to emerge from the first corner behind only Lewis Hamilton.

But the Australian's race then rapidly went downhill after Lance Stroll ran into Charles Leclerc's Ferrari who, in turn, hit Ricciardo, spinning him around and causing considerable damage to the right side of the MCL35M.

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"Thanks to Stroll," said an unhappy Ricciardo. "A lot of us have many people to thank today - my thank you goes out to Stroll.

“Obviously, turn one ruined our race. I had a lot of damage, it was so compromised. But we tried."

He added: “Obviously, there was some chaos in front. My launch was good and I kind of felt like I got through it.

“I think I was more or less on the exit of turn one and I was in second. There was one car in front and I was like ‘This is alright’.

“Then I saw Charles come into me but I kind of knew it wasn’t him. It just felt like we were so deep in the corner and I felt like someone collected him and pushed him.

“I saw the replay. Obviously, Stroll went in and ruined both of our races.

“It’s a shame. These chaotic races provide so much opportunity and it would have been nice going into the break to get something like that."

Ocon 'living his dream'

After leaving Renault - now Alpine - at the end of last year to join McLaren, Ricciardo was naturally delighted for former team-mate Esteban Ocon's first F1 win.

“The first win is special," added Ricciardo. "The emotions are high and especially after a race like that, it’s crazy.

"A crazy feeling and obviously I’m happy for him because this experience of winning a grand prix is something we dream of our whole lives.

“For him to have his first one now, he is living a dream come true.”