Daniel Ricciardo’s Chinese Grand Prix weekend ended in disappointment after a collision with Lance Stroll forced him to retire from the race. Stroll slammed into the back of Ricciardo’s car during a safety car restart, leading to a heated exchange of words between the drivers.
Stroll initially blamed Ricciardo over team radio, accusing him of abruptly braking. Ricciardo, taken aback by the accusation, expressed his frustration post-race, stating, “It’s clear as day – and it’s also behind a safety car.” He vented his anger towards Stroll, emphasizing, “**** that guy.”
Despite Ricciardo’s anger, race stewards sided with him, issuing Stroll a 10-second penalty and holding him solely responsible for the incident. However, Stroll contested the penalty, describing the situation as a “joke” and citing a sudden braking from the car ahead as the trigger for the collision.
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack supported Stroll, criticizing the swift decision-making process of the stewards. Krack believed that the incident was part of a chain reaction and warranted further examination.
The stewards’ verdict highlighted Stroll’s failure to anticipate the pace of the cars in front, particularly Ricciardo’s, and prepare to brake accordingly. They concluded that Stroll’s actions were predominantly to blame for the collision, leading to Ricciardo’s retirement from the race.
As tensions simmered between the drivers and their teams, Ricciardo’s quest for an apology from Stroll seemed unlikely, further deepening the rift caused by the on-track incident.
