30/07/2017
NEWS STORY
The infectious grin, far less the shoey, seemed a million miles away as Daniel Ricciardo talked to reporters shortly after the incident that eliminated him on the opening lap of today's Hungarian Grand Prix.
While the popular Australian had previously warned that his determination to get a good rrsult would not make him many friend, his race was over after two corners after being hit by teammate Max Verstappen in Turn 2.
"It was what it was," sighed the Australian. "I saw I had a good run out of one. Obviously, there was a bit going on. I saw Valtteri on the inside so I could brake a bit later on the outside and thought I could just go here and protect that place. Then I felt a hit.
"For sure it's not on," he continued. "That was amateur to say the least. It's just frustrating.
"It's not like he was trying to pass, there was no room, Valtteri was in front I was on the outside, there was no room.
"I don't think he likes it obviously when a teammate gets in front of him," said the Red Bull driver. "You've got the whole race to try and repair a mistake. The pass was never on. It wasn't even a passing attempt, it was just a very poor mistake.
"Obviously, the team will do their bit and I'll do my bit. There shouldn't be too much but for sure we'll sort it out.
"I honestly don't think it's trying too hard," he concluded. "I don't think there's an excuse for it. He tried the outside at turn one, it didn't work, he got the line taken away from him at the exit, and all of a sudden what looks like a good start is then a bad start and he sees me go past, and it's like; 'shit, I've got to fix this' and it's 'oops, I've crashed'. That's just the way it was."
Check out our Sunday gallery from Hungary, here.