Australian Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo penalised five grid places for costly crash in qualifying

Australian Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo penalised five grid places for costly crash in qualifying

Daniel Ricciardo drops from 10th to 15th for the Australian Grand Prix after he slammed into the barrier during qualifying on Saturday.

Advertisement
Australian Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo penalised five grid places for costly crash in qualifying

Melbourne: Daniel Ricciardo’s Australian Grand Prix hopes have been dealt another blow with confirmation of a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s season-opening race in Melbourne.

Ricciardo slammed into the barrier during qualifying on Saturday and his Red Bull RB13 car suffered rear end damage and prompted the team to change the gearbox.

Advertisement
Daniel Ricciardo after crashing out of the qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix. AP

Teams need to run the same gearbox in six consecutive events, and the five-place penalty, confirmed by the Red Bull team, for changing it drops Ricciardo from 10th to 15th for his home grand prix.

Ricciardo acknowledged after qualifying a gearbox change was possible, and admitted he was “hoping for a lot” in the race.

Ricciardo’s penalty promotes Force India’s Sergio Perez to 10th, and also elevates Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon and Marcus Ericsson.

It continues Ricciardo’s run of wretched luck at his home grand prix where he is seeking to become the race’s first Australian winner in 37 years.

He is lining up for his sixth crack at the race, after placing fourth last year, his best performance yet.

Advertisement

In 2014, Ricciardo crossed the line second behind Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, but was disqualified for breaching fuel rules.

Latest News

Find us on YouTube

Subscribe

Top Shows

Vantage First Sports Fast and Factual Between The Lines