Ricciardo: 'Frustration' behind late race error

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed that "frustration" was behind his late-race spin at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The RB driver endured a disappointing race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which was first hit by a lengthy pit stop under safety car conditions following a crash for Aston Martin's Lance Stroll.

Having dropped to the back of the field - and held up behind the train of cars orchestrated by Kevin Magnussen, who created a gap for Haas teammate Nico Hulkenberg to pit into following the Danish driver's double penalty hit - Ricciardo then went for a spin in the dying laps, capping off a miserable afternoon.

On the lack of pace on show from the Faenza-based outfit, Ricciardo told media including RacingNews365: "We found a few things over the course of the weekend.

"So we're heading into the race always upbeat and optimistic that maybe something happens, but I think it was always going to be an uphill battle.

"We simply don't have everything functioning at 100 per cent. We see a few flaws with the car, we have got to get that fixed for the next one. I think the race itself, everyone pitted [under the safety car] and we had a really slow stop - I don't know if they [the broadcast] showed it, it's a slow one.

"Then we're in that train and at the end, just to make sure, I made my mistake as well, I had a spin at turn one, so I didn't want the team to feel left out," Ricciardo joked.

"Just definitely a tricky one."

'I'm staying optimistic'

On what caused his error, the eight-time grand prix winner added: "I did just take a bit too much kerb, which caused the spin.

"I'm not intending on taking that much kerb, you could say just probably a little bit of frustration, maybe on my part.

"I'm not trying to spin excuses... but my drink didn't work, I'll use that as an excuse," he laughed.

Ricciardo is remaining optimistic despite the underwhelming start to his 2024 campaign as he knows what the VCARB-01 is capable of, once the team solves their current problems.

RB entered the season expected to challenge the top five in the Constructors' standings having strengthened its technical ties with Red Bull, though that has failed to transpire in the opening two rounds of the season.

But far from downbeat, Ricciardo explained: "The reason I'm staying optimistic is because I know that we had some things wrong, and with a good car and everything sorted I know we can do a lot better.

"So a painful three days [in Saudi Arabia], but I don't want it to take any confidence out of us. It hasn't been the start to the year we wanted."