Formula 1 News: Ricciardo Reveals Clutch Issue Behind Jump Start Penalty

Ricciardo’s Penalty Explained

In a revelation that sheds light on the perplexing jump start penalty he received during the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull revealed that a clutch problem was behind the incident. The Australian driver was the first to be punished under the FIA’s clampdown on jump starts, with his car deemed to have moved “before the start signal was given”.

“It was weird because I got told I had a five-second penalty for a jump start, but I know I didn’t jump the lights, so I was a bit confused,” Ricciardo explained. “So I obviously questioned it, but then I remember, I feel like when I was finding the revs for the start, I felt maybe the car was moving.”

Ricciardo’s race engineer, Pierre Hamelin, later attributed the issue to a slight clutch dragging problem.

Ricciardo’s Fightback

The ongoing struggle with inconsistent starts this season was evident, as Ricciardo’s car dropped to 10th place after he took his penalty under the first Safety Car on Lap 26. He lost another position when Alex Albon overtook him on the restart. However, Ricciardo managed to climb back through the field, securing an on-track pass on Esteban Ocon’s Alpine and ultimately finishing eighth, earning his first points in grand prix conditions in 2024.

“Then as it dried towards the end, we were able to pick our way through a few cars,” he added. “And yeah, happy then to obviously finish with four points and get that. So yeah, it was never going to be perfect. I mean, these conditions are so hard to get it right for everyone.”

Ricciardo also addressed the criticism he received from ex-F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve, stating, “Yeah, it’s been good. I mean, I feel as well, you know, these weekends are sometimes the hardest… So that was like, nice to, as you say, start to finish, keep it on track, keep it steady, keep it smooth.”

Ricciardo’s performance in the Canadian Grand Prix solidifies his position in the Formula 1 standings, as he looks ahead to the next race on the Formula 1 calendar. For the latest Formula 1 news, Formula 1 today, and Formula 1 standings, stay tuned to our coverage.

🔗 Source