The new update at Racing Bulls seems to be bringing initial success – what Daniel Ricciardo has to say about it and why the Australian wants to increase over the summer break
Racing Bulls are on the right track: After an upgrade package in Barcelona had led in the wrong direction, the Bulls have recently been able to achieve respectable successes again. In Hungary, Yuki Tsunoda scored two points in ninth place, while team-mate Daniel Ricciardo finished tenth in Belgium
“We started 13th, made up a few positions, so we had a good race and got to the front,” said the eight-time Grand Prix winner. “I think we had a really good race, but some other drivers had a really good race as well, and that was it.”
The Australian, who is allowed to keep his cockpit after the summer break, is not yet satisfied with the progress made with the update. “I still have the feeling that our strengths are more in the lower speed range and our weaknesses are more in the really fast sections,” Ricciardo admits after the Belgium race.
This became particularly clear to the Racing Bull driver in the fast Pouhon corner, when he no longer had to conserve his tires towards the end of the race. “Even then, I had the feeling that Ocon was quite fast with less downforce,” muses the 35-year-old, who ultimately had to admit defeat to the Alpine driver.
Ricciardo “knew it would be difficult “
At the time, Ricciardo didn’t know which position he was in. “It was difficult because I knew that some cars would try a one-stop strategy. I didn’t really know my position during the race, but I knew it would all work out somehow. “
“And in my head I said to myself: ‘Yeah, the pace is strong, I know some fast cars are not too far ahead of me’, so I really thought we would end up in the points,” admits the Racing Bulls driver. It was only when Ocon appeared in the rear-view mirror that Ricciardo suspected that the points might be close.
“Because I knew it would be difficult to hold him off,” says the 35-year-old, alluding to the difference in speed compared to the Alpine. “He was strong all weekend. Plus, he just came out with a fresher tire, so of course you try to say, ‘Alright, let’s fight’. But I knew it was going to be tough. “
Ricciardo will “maybe put on some weight “
“When he came past, I knew we’d just missed out on the points,” says Ricciardo, who finished eleventh but slipped up a position due to George Russell’s disqualification. “I tried to stay with him, but yes, it was a shame. “
“They were quite fast on the straights, I assume they had less downforce, and at [Pouhon] he was still quite fast,” Ricciardo tries to explain the VCARB 01’s problems. “We still have to work a bit on the really high speed.”
“But we seem to be quite good in the tighter, twistier sections,” says the Australian, pleased that there are at least glimmers of hope for the second half of the season thanks to the latest update. “Yeah, the characteristics are probably the same, it’s just that the load is our friend now, so maybe I’ll put some weight on during the break and that will help.”
