One of those days when I really did not love this sport: Daniel Ricciardo after Styrian GP

Australian racer Daniel Ricciardo was able to enjoy signs of progress in France a week ago. However, his spirits have certainly taken a toll with his love for racing tested following a tough Styrian GP in Austria. The Australian had a tough qualifying but appeared to instantly negate his lowly starting position by gaining five places on the opening lap. The same helped him enjoy a strong position on the medium tyre. However, mechanical issues on Lap 7 resulted in the race being ruined, after he was forced to return to his starting spot of 13th.

“It was disheartening because I had such a great start, and I was on a preferred strategy with the mediums. It felt like the cars ahead would have struggled on the softs and we were in a really good position – 13th to 8th – so it was all there ahead of us. Then I lost power. I felt it out of Turn 1, and then I got some switches and we were able to recover it by Turn 7 or Turn 8. But everyone I passed on Lap 1 I waved back past me. Then you’re in the train and that’s it, afternoon done,” said Ricciardo as quoted by Formula 1’s official website.

“We are ahead of [Carlos] Sainz on the same strategy, and he finished sixth. I think that was us. We could’ve been fifth and sixth again as a team. When it is low it is really low, the sport. This was one of those days that I really did not love it,” he added.

“I’m not the only one hurting”

The Australian was classified 13th at the flag after getting close to the points again. However, he failed to make progress through the field, having majorly lost the chance to use his strategic advantage.

“[It came] out of the blue, so for now I don’t know what it was. I’m not the only one hurting. I’m sure that they feel the pain as well. The weekend went from bad to worse, and it is just one of those ones. It was fine after that, so in a way that is kind of what sucks even more. When you drop back that much sometimes you are like ‘let’s end the pain’. We still had a long race to go, but once you’re in the train everyone has DRS, and clear air is so important around here. It was so static that I think everyone’s pace was quite similar in dirty air. So there was really nothing to do after that. The race changed like a switch,” he stated.

While Ricciardo’s morale has definitely been hit hard by the debacle at Red Bull Ring, he is eager to note the progress possible with another crack at the same venue in the next weekend.

“As much as I want to swipe out of the paddock, I’m glad that we get another chance. It can only be better both Saturday and Sunday. So I look forward to coming back and trying again and trying to get a bit of help from someone somewhere, anywhere,” he concluded.