VCARB boss ‘super disappointed’ with Daniel Ricciardo’s Shanghai crash, insists he was ‘attacking Lewis Hamilton’ for a top 10 finish

Daniel Ricciardo, the VCARB F1 driver had an eventful outing during the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. From starting his race in P12 to ending his Grand Prix exploits with a DNF, Ricciardo had a rollercoaster of a ride this past weekend.

Ahead of the safety car restart on lap 26, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll bumped into the rear of Daniel Ricciardo‘s VCARB 01, ending the latter’s outing in an abrupt fashion. VCARB boss, Laurent Mekies is not at all pleased with the incident.

He recently claimed that had Stroll not hit Ricciardo, the latter could have finished in the top 10 as he was attacking Lewis Hamilton who was facing his own issues in the lackluster W15.

It is super disappointing because you get both your cars taken out of the race in separate incidents by competitors [within] one minute. Daniel was producing a strong drive until then - just before the safety car, he was actually attacking Lewis Hamilton. We feel we were in good shape to fight with Nico [Hulkenberg] for that position. Laurent Mekies said in an interview with GPFans

The Red Bull sister team came away with zero points from the highly entertaining 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. Ricciardo’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda also crashed out of the race after Haas’s Kevin Magnussen touched the rear tire of the former’s car and spun the Japanese around.

VCARB looking at the positives despite a ‘tough weekend’ in Shanghai

The Faenza-based team has been progressing well this year but their Shanghai has had a major impact on their constructors’ standings. Haas driver, Nico Hulkenberg was able to score a point during the Chinese Grand Prix.

As things stand, RB is only 2 points ahead of the Ayao Kotmasu-led team Haas F1 team. However, despite this, Mekies has urged his team to look at the positives.

For sure, it's difficult to swallow but we need to look at the positives. The positives are that once again here, we had time to fight for the P10. And every weekend, it's a fight for that last half-a-tenth to be in that fight or not. And we were here as well, this weekend.Laurent Mekies said in the same interview

The VCARB01 has so far proved better than the challengers of teams like Haas, Williams, Sauber, and also the Alpine F1 team. However, keeping in view the unpredictable nature of the sport, the upcoming races could change the current order of the bottom five teams. Haas has been continuously improving and Williams on their day, is capable of producing potent results.

Daniel Ricciardo, the VCARB F1 driver had an eventful outing during the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. From starting his race in P12 to ending his Grand Prix exploits with a DNF, Ricciardo had a rollercoaster of a ride this past weekend.

Ahead of the safety car restart on lap 26, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll bumped into the rear of Daniel Ricciardo‘s VCARB 01, ending the latter’s outing in an abrupt fashion. VCARB boss, Laurent Mekies is not at all pleased with the incident.

He recently claimed that had Stroll not hit Ricciardo, the latter could have finished in the top 10 as he was attacking Lewis Hamilton who was facing his own issues in the lackluster W15.

It is super disappointing because you get both your cars taken out of the race in separate incidents by competitors [within] one minute. Daniel was producing a strong drive until then - just before the safety car, he was actually attacking Lewis Hamilton. We feel we were in good shape to fight with Nico [Hulkenberg] for that position. Laurent Mekies said in an interview with GPFans

The Red Bull sister team came away with zero points from the highly entertaining 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. Ricciardo’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda also crashed out of the race after Haas’s Kevin Magnussen touched the rear tire of the former’s car and spun the Japanese around.

VCARB looking at the positives despite a ‘tough weekend’ in Shanghai

The Faenza-based team has been progressing well this year but their Shanghai has had a major impact on their constructors’ standings. Haas driver, Nico Hulkenberg was able to score a point during the Chinese Grand Prix.

Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo (Via IMAGO)

As things stand, RB is only 2 points ahead of the Ayao Kotmasu-led team Haas F1 team. However, despite this, Mekies has urged his team to look at the positives.

For sure, it's difficult to swallow but we need to look at the positives. The positives are that once again here, we had time to fight for the P10. And every weekend, it's a fight for that last half-a-tenth to be in that fight or not. And we were here as well, this weekend. Laurent Mekies said in the same interview

The VCARB01 has so far proved better than the challengers of teams like Haas, Williams, Sauber, and also the Alpine F1 team. However, keeping in view the unpredictable nature of the sport, the upcoming races could change the current order of the bottom five teams. Haas has been continuously improving and Williams on their day, is capable of producing potent results.