Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Posted on October 26, 2022 Tags: Formula One
In a much happier place, way back when! Image courtesy Getty Images
Austin a New Low
DANIEL RICCIARDO seemed at the lowest ebb of his F1 career as he faced up to the mandatory bullpen presser following his dismal performance in Sunday’s USA Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
While COTA is high among the Aussie’s favourite venues Daniel finished a shocking 16th, above only Nicky Latifi who also won’t be on the championship grid in 2023.
But when Daniel had calmed down, he was more upbeat. More professional:
“So I’m choosing to laugh because I don’t really want to cry.
“I’ll still do what I can in the last three [races].
“I’m at a point where I won’t hope or think or expect it will be an amazing last three races.
“Days like this leave you feeling a bit helpless.” Daniel Ricciardo
“I just can’t lean on the car.”
“When you think it can’t get any worse, it does,” said a desolate Daniel earlier, in the bullpen.
“I don’t know how I’m continuing to continue,’ he said, struggling to hold his poise, his trademark smile long gone, his sorrow and embarrassment apparent. “I have no idea what to say. Honestly, it’s just 2022. When you think it can’t get worse, it does.
“That’s where, I don’t know, I don’t know how I’m continuing to continue because [to say] it’s painful is an understatement.”
Daniel cut a forlorn figure as he struggled to admit he could not explain the difference in pace with his teammate, Lando Norris.
“It’s been the year that it’s been. Just so far off the pace, I simply can’t lean on [the car], I can’t push, can’t get the time out of it.
“The inconsistency through the lap times, it shows that it really is a struggle, but to have such a really big margin [to Norris] again it remains a mystery.
“I love Texas, I love Austin, but that race was not enjoyable for me.”
A Puzzling Scenario?
Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button was similarly puzzled by the Perth superstar’s demise, and at a loss when trying to explain Daniel’s sudden and drastic decline since joining McLaren.
“It’s sad because he’s such a talent and to see him right at the back of the field, I can’t explain it. That’s a tough one.”
“I can’t see Daniel as a third driver in the paddock. It doesn’t work, but that’s obviously what he’s chosen to do [and] it feels right for him.
“I would rather he was racing in Formula 1 in a team that was further down the grid, then he can prove himself again in the car and maybe get a drive further up the grid.
“But as a third driver people will just remember his last race this year.”
No Pen to Paper – Yet!
Daniel confirmed in Austin that he would not be moving to Haas. And this week he commented about being a reserve driver at Mercedes, or Red Bull (where he won seven races and picked up 29 podiums in five seasons):
“I don’t [have a deal lined up]. So, for now, everything’s just rumours. Am I talking? Yes, but there’s [been] no pen on paper or anything like that yet.”
Mexico City
The Tyres on Track
Mexico is the highest event on the Formula 1 calendar at more than 2200 metres above sea level. The thin air affects engines as well as aerodynamics, generating less downforce at lower speeds especially.
As was the case last weekend, the C2 is the P Zero White hard, C3 the Yellow medium, and C4 the Red soft.
With this year’s ground effect floors, Pirelli’s F1 boss Mario Isola reckons it’s going to be interesting to note the impact on downforce compared to last year.
There’s quite a lot of temperature variation during the day in Mexico, even in the space of a few hours, which affects thermal degradation: an important parameter that the teams will need to monitor.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is the ‘contingency plan’ to replace the cancelled 2023 tyre test scheduled for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The FP2 session in Mexico will run for 90 minutes to assess the softer slick compounds for next year, while in Austin the harder prototypes were run.
As was the case last Friday, the entire session will be devoted to the tyre test with Pirelli setting the run plan.
If a team uses a young driver for FP1, it is allowed to run its own programme for the first part of FP2 before concentrating on the tyre test for the remainder of the session.
It should be noted here that Alpine has decided to give young Aussie F2 star Jack Doohan – son of bike legend Mick Doohan who won five consecutive 500cc world championships – his Formula One debut in practice here in Mexico!
So we don’t get confused, the prototype tyres don’t carry coloured markings on the sidewalls.
“Mexico is a completely different challenge to the two races that came before it.
“Over the course of a season, our tyres have to cope with a wide variety of conditions depending on the individual characteristics of each venue.
“If you look back at the last two races, Suzuka was all about lateral forces and Austin was well-balanced aerodynamically, but Mexico this weekend focuses on traction and braking.
“The Hermanos Rodriguez circuit does not offer a lot of grip and the energy demands on the tyres are reasonably low, as the cars do not generate much downforce in the thin air at high altitude, especially in slow corners.
“This year, the circuit might be more front-limited, as the current generation of car tends to understeer through slow corners – which Mexico has plenty of – and this can lead to some sliding on the front tyres.
“Due to the nature of the venue the circuit tends to feature a dusty surface with plenty of track evolution.
“Understanding this and getting the tyre warm-up exactly right is likely to be the key to success.”
MARIO ISOLA
Unified SpeedSeries Primed for Bumper 2023
All Motorsport Australia championships and Australian Racing Group (ARG) events will operate under the unified SpeedSeries banner in 2023.
MA and ARG will work collaboratively to deliver – and broadcast live – a base of seven high profile events around Australia next year, with the events and categories falling under a single and consistent brand for the first time.
“Creating a single brand for the suite of ARG and Motorsport Australia categories to fall under made sense for all concerned, and it’s been a great collaboration with the team at Motorsport Australia to make it happen,” said Australian Racing Group chief operating officer Liam Curkpatrick.
“2022 has served as something of a soft launch for the ‘SpeedSeries’ brand, but it’s clear and simple branding has worked very well and we are looking forward to collaborating with the team at Motorsport Australia to build it further in 2023 and beyond.”
In coming weeks, MA will announce other events alongside the SpeedSeries to provide more track time and racing options for a range of national and state categories eager to compete on the national stage.
SpeedSeries 2023 again features two events at the iconic Mount Panorama, with the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour and Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
Events include the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, Turtle Wax Trans Am Series, S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters, and Australian Production Cars.
All SpeedSeries rounds are broadcast live on Stan Sport and the Nine Network.
Rallying – ARC
Lewis Bates and co-driver Anthony McLoughlin have stormed into the lead of the 2022 RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship, with their victory in the Adelaide Hills, edging out brother Harry Bates and co-driver John McCarthy after back-to-back wins.
It was a dominant performance from the younger Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia driver, taking a number of stage wins throughout the weekend, including maximum bonus points in the EROAD Power Stage.
With Sunday’s action all taking place around The Bend Motorsport Park as part of The Bend AutoFest, rain threatened to cause drama throughout the day.
Shamrock Motorsport’s Richie Dalton and Dale Moscatt finished the event in second, while young gun Troy Dowel and co-driver Bernie Webb rounded out the podium in third.
Catalunya
Toyota driver Sebastien Ogier won the all-asphalt Catalunya Rally de Espana last weekend, on Pirelli P Zero tyres. The championship now draws to a close at Rally Japan from November 10-13, also to be held on asphalt.
FIA Motorsport Games
Motorsport Australia’s FIA Motorsport Games campaign is broadcast live and free on 7plus this weekend.
The FIA Motorsport Games is a multi-discipline international competition, featuring a number of Australians representing their country on motorsport’s world stage.
Team Australia features the following competitors: GT – Stephen Grove (Team Captain) and Brenton Grove GT Sprint – Matt Campbell Esports – Philippa Boquida Formula 4 – Costa Toparis Karting Sprint Snr – Aiva Anagnostiadis Karting Sprint Jnr – Peter Bouzinelos Touring Car (TCR) – Aaron Cameron. The broadcast begins Friday (France time), continuing into Saturday and Sunday.
EDITED by AC
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