Hold onto your hats, race fans! Daniel Ricciardo snags a surprise top 10 finish after George Russell’s disqualification at the Belgian GP.
- Ricciardo initially finished P11 but climbed to P10 post-race.
- Russell’s car was underweight, leading to his disqualification.
- Ricciardo and Lawson could replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull.
- The points boost improves Ricciardo’s chances of a Red Bull return.
Daniel Ricciardo was initially disappointed, believing he had just missed out on earning points at Spa with an 11th place finish. However, George Russell’s disqualification for having an underweight car changed everything, promoting Ricciardo to 10th place, and earning him a crucial point before the summer break.
“It was hard because I knew some cars were going to try a one-stop,” Ricciardo said. He was uncertain about his standing during the race, but knew it would work out. He aimed to get ahead of Lance Stroll, aware of the other fast cars close by.
He held onto 10th when Esteban Ocon was behind him but knew he’d be challenged. Once Ocon overtook him, Ricciardo realized he’d dropped just out of the points. Despite this, he felt he had a good race.
Russell’s disqualification was a windfall for Ricciardo. An error in Russell’s Mercedes W15, which was 1.5kg underweight, cost him the win and handed Ricciardo the final points position. This elevates Ricciardo’s season tally to 12 points.
Ricciardo and Liam Lawson are vying for a potential spot at Red Bull if Sergio Perez is dropped. They are set to participate in a VCARB filming day at Imola on July 31 to show their skills. Ricciardo’s performance in the last six races strengthens his claim to the seat.
Reflecting on the race, Ricciardo was surprised to be the only driver starting on soft tires. Despite this, he matched the pace of those on medium tires and made strategic gains through pit stops. Eventually, he felt he had a solid race, just lacking the points as a reward, until Russell’s DSQ changed the game.
Ricciardo’s luck turned around with Russell’s disqualification, giving him a crucial top 10 finish and bolstering his chances for a Red Bull return.
Source: Planetf1
