Daniel Ricciardo’s rocky start to the 2022 season seemed to continue on Friday at the Monaco GP when he lost the car on his first flying lap in the second practice session, touching the pool barriers (Turn 14) and veering straight into the wall. of Tecpro barriers of the 15.
Considerable damage to his car required the Australian to return to the track for the rest of the session, and he arrives on Saturday with just one hour of practice, FP1, under his belt.
Ricciardo explained that the accident was not caused by attacking the curb too much, a classic mistake in that narrow but fast chicane, but that his car had already started to lose rear grip before entering the Pool, noting that on his side box were too extreme with the set-up before the second practice session.
“It was strange. I think if someone has an accident there, normally you see it on the start if they take maybe too hard the curb at Turn 14 and then lose the car. But I already started losing the car more or less before Turn 13,” said the McLaren F1 driver.
“We went a bit overboard in a couple of areas with the set-up. We had a good morning and tried a few things for the second session, to try and maximize performance a bit more, but let’s just say we overdid it, but that’s not something. what you know until you try it”.
“Obviously it was my first lap so I couldn’t have had much idea about it. It happened straight away.”
“I did my best to save him, but I couldn’t. We missed the whole session, but I’m fine. We’ll be ready for Saturday.”
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Ricciardo said he wasn’t too bummed out by his latest setback because in Friday’s first practice session he found the confidence he needed.
In FP1 he was seventh fastest, just a tenth behind teammate Lando Norris.
Norris finished fifth in both practice sessions as best of the rest , with McLaren looking slightly ahead of Mercedes.
“It was fun, I enjoyed the morning,” Ricciardo added. “We were always up front, and I think I had good confidence. These cars are heavy, they’re stiff, the driving is a bit bumpier and for sure less fun, because you’re really suffering.”
“And in this heat it’s a very physical wear and tear, but I enjoyed it in the first practice. I’m sorry I lost some time in the second practice because I wanted to try the soft tyres.”
“Anyway, on Saturday we have a chance again and I’m sure tonight they’ll fix the car and put it in a good place for tomorrow [he stated on Friday]. Lando has had a pretty good FP2 from the looks of it, so that we can recover.”
