Daniel Ricciardo confident F1 will avoid Abu Dhabi controversy repeat

Safety car, Abu Dhabi — Photo: © LAT Images

Daniel Ricciardo

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Ricciardo confident F1 will avoid Abu Dhabi controversy repeat

The FIA is reviewing the race ahead of the new season

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Wednesday 16 February 2022 12:35

Daniel Ricciardo is confident the "emphasis" on last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will ensure F1 avoids a repeat of the controversial season finale.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's season-long title fight ended in drama last term as the Dutchman took advantage of the procedures used during the late safety car period to overtake his rival on the last lap of the race and clinch his maiden driver's crown.

The fallout continues to divide opinion, with drivers now rallying behind race director Michael Masi despite calls from outside the paddock for the Australian to be replaced in his role.

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Ricciardo labelled the situation as "pretty f**ked up" in the immediate aftermath at the Yas Marina Circuit.

But asked if he had confidence there would be no repeat scenario, the McLaren driver said: "I definitely have confidence moving forward because there has been so much emphasis on it, whether it is from drivers, from the outside, I guess they don't want to put themselves in any position like that again.

"Maybe the stars align and it does happen again and so be it, but I am confident. There has been that much around it that something will at least be addressed or changed or at least looked at to find a way to make a situation like that a little better.

"At the time, I said it when I was still in the car, or just getting out of the car in parc fermé.

"All I knew at the time was that Lewis had a relatively big lead and looked like it was wrapped up, and then with one lap to go there is a restart. I knew Max had pitted for fresher tyres and I don't think Lewis could have pitted, so I was just like 'Wow!'"

Addressing his reaction in the Abu Dhabi media pen, Ricciardo explained: "At that time, I was like 'I feel for Lewis' because he was laps away and just through this you couldn't pit and now you are a sitting duck with a lap to go.

"It is not often you put yourself in another driver's shoes, especially when you are on track with them.

"But for whatever reason, I was putting myself in his shoes that night, probably because I could see it all unfold in front of me and I was like 'Yeah, I would not like to be feeling that right now. That is a really heartbreaker'."