Ricciardo yet to speak to unapologetic Stroll

A fortnight on from being taken out by Lance Stroll in China, Daniel Ricciardo admitted he is yet to speak to the Canadian ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.

Ricciardo’s Chinese Grand Prix ended early when Stroll ran into the back of the Australian under Safety Car conditions.

Although a train of tightly bunched cars managed to avoid front to tail contact at the hairpin and Stroll having a number of car lengths between himself and Ricciardo, the Aston Martin driver failed to react in time and fired hard into the #3 Racing Bulls machine.

Despite being penalised, Stroll refused to accept responsibility for his part in the crash, labelling it a “weird racing incident.”

This made Ricciardo’s “blood boil” post race and the Aussie revealed he and Stroll are yet to clear the air over the drama.

But the Aussie doest mind, believing there is “not much to say” if the Canadian carries on feeling blameless.

“I would say no because I feel it’s not going to go anywhere,” Ricciardo said when asked if had spoken with Stroll.

“I can accept an apology. I’m not that much of an asshole, but the fact that there’s not even that means he clearly doesn’t think he did anything wrong, so I guess there’s not much to say.

“Obviously, if we sit next to each other in the drivers’ briefing and he wants to chat, I’m not going to ignore him or anything.”

Ricciardo said himself would always try to speak to opposing drivers after incidents.

“When I was younger, maybe I was more stubborn and didn’t always apologise for something that was my fault,” he said.

“But the last few years if I take someone out or even if it’s 50/50, I’ll still say ‘look, maybe I could have done better, so sorry for ruining our day.’ 

‘I’ll just text them clear the air a little bit.

“We’re all rivals, but you don’t want to have a target and you don’t need enemies. 

“I’m not going as far as saying he is an enemy or anything because it’s an incident and we’ll move on.

“But you don’t obviously want to get what you’re giving. 

“In that position, if I didn’t see him in person I would at least say ‘hey man sorry, I was looking somewhere else, or you braked really hard and caught me off guard’ whatever, just something.

“But yeah, it’s fine. Obviously we’re talking about it, but I have certainly moved on.”

When asked ‘have you spoken to Daniel?’ Stroll’s reply was short: ‘Not for this room. Those things are done behind closed doors.’

After back to back DNFs and a point-less start to 2024, Miami is a critical race for Ricciardo.

Although the results were not there, the Australian felt he turned a corner in Shanghai after out-qualifying teammate Yuki Tsunoda and is itching to go in an upgraded Racing Bulls with a new floor.

“Obviously you have to back it up but the feeling inside the car that weekend (in China) felt a bit more conventional and effortlessly,” Ricciardo said.

“It rolled which it hadn’t until that point. The race was cut back a bit short but I am very excited to be back in the car.

“All I want to do is race and compete now.

“The team has been pushing really hard with a new floor.

“We need some points and will get some points. I will keep saying that until we get some.”

2024 Miami Grand Prix schedule 

Saturday, May 4

Practice 1: 02.30-03.30

Sprint Shootout: 06.30-07.14

Sunday, May 5

Sprint: 02.00-03.00

Qualifying: 06.00-07.00

Monday, May 5

Grand Prix: 06.00

Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/ Red Bull Content Pool

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