In the round-up: Daniel Ricciardo in unsatisfied by this 13th place on the grid for today’s Belgian Grand Prix
In brief
Ricciardo frustrated by Q2 exit
After being eliminated in Q2, Daniel Ricciardo admits he was unhappy with his position on today’s grid after the promise RB showed in practice.
“I don’t love 13th,” he said. “I do feel like we were better than that. It was a call we made at the time. It didn’t seem like a silly one, it just didn’t work out for us.
“Q2, we did the first run, I think we were there somewhere in the top ten, and then a little bit of rain started to come. So we thought ‘okay, let’s set the time now in case the rain gets heavier and the track gets slower, let’s try and do what we can’. So we were able to improve a little bit, maybe a tenth or something. But then the rain stayed light enough that at the end everyone was able to improve. So we were back in the garage and that’s when we got knocked out. So that was for sure frustrating, but I don’t argue with our train of thought up until that moment. If it rains heavier, then we look like the good guys. It just didn’t work out for us.
“But I’m definitely happy with the pace we had. I felt like every time we set a representative time, we were a top ten car. We didn’t get rewarded with it today.”
Magnussen suffered suspension problem
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu revealed that Kevin Magnussen was fighting with a rear suspension problem as he was knocked out of F1, slower than team mate Nico Hulkenberg.
“Kevin’s car looks like it had a physical issue with the rear suspension which we can see on the data,” Komatsu explained.
“So we’re now looking into that, but I’m sure we can put that one right tonight”
101 track limits strikes in 12-lap F3 sprint
Trident Formula 3 driver Sami Meguetounif earned an eye-watering 30 seconds of time penalties in yesterday’s Formula 3 sprint race after the stewards determined he had exceeded track limits ten times over the 12-lap race.
Meguetounif took the chequered flag in sixth place but was demoted to 27th in the final classification with his penalty.
He was one of 11 drivers who received time penalties for exceeding track limits multiple times during the race, with a total of 101 track limits strikes counted over the race. Mari Boya was hit with 25 seconds of penalties for eight infringements, the most prolific offender aside from Meguetounif.
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Links
Horner suggests McLaren should have let Lando Norris win Hungarian GP (Sky)
”But they gave a two-lap undercut to Lando, so obviously wanted him ahead of Oscar. Having put him ahead, it’s tough on the driver to say ‘we want you to drop behind your team-mate. If this championship is lost by seven points at the end of the year, every point counts at the end of the day. Different teams go racing in a different way but Lando is the closest challenger and you have to put your eggs in one basket at some point.”
TikTok stars get tax money, free airfare to promote Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review Journal)
‘Influencers were contracted to promote Las Vegas through Instagram posts, TikTok videos and specified hashtags. They were provided flights, hotel stays and other accommodations, including, at times, Super Bowl tickets and helicopter rides, records show. Three influencers and two Ykone representatives also received LVCVA-purchased tickets to Las Vegas’ Formula 1racing event last November, agency records show.’
Tramnitz ”disappointed” to miss F3 podium in hard-fought Spa race (Formula Scout)
”With the track being still a bit wet in Eau Rouge, it was really difficult. La Source was always fine. But then Eau Rouge made a difference. If I was too close, it made it really tough to stay close. And to be a bit further was an advantage. And for sure I think I had like four or five moments in Eau Rouge where I thought there was not really a lot missing to going into the wall. So it was quite on the limit every lap.”
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