Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo endured a difficult day in Hockenheim this afternoon, following a drive-through penalty in round 13 of the Formula Renault 3.5 season. The Red Bull Junior lost a potential fourth place and crossed the line 11th, only the third time this season that Daniel has finished outside the top ten.Qualifying this morning was a mixed affair, with Daniel and his team mate Jean-Eric Vergne qualifying 10th and 14th respectively. Daniel’s main championship rival, Mikhail Aleshin was only a few places ahead of him on the grid, in seventh place.
As the lights went out, Daniel made a lightning start, passing several drivers and fighting wheel to wheel with Aleshin through the first few corners. At the end of the first lap, Daniel was already up to fifth place.
As the race entered a steady rhythm, Daniel continued to put fourth placed man Aleshin under pressure, and was just 0.8 seconds behind on lap six. As the race neared the pit stop window Daniel was even closer and having made his mandatory stop and changed his two front tyres, was back out on track ahead of Aleshin.
Daniel’s luck changed on lap 12 however, when the Perth born racer was handed a drive-through penalty, having been accused of speeding in the pit lane. Having served his penalty on lap 15, Daniel rejoined the track in 12th.
As the race entered the final stages, Daniel continued to push, but couldn’t make any further progress. At the chequered flag, Daniel was in a disappointing 12th place, having dominated proceedings yesterday. However, following the disqualification of second placed man Daniel Zampieri following post race scrutineering, Daniel was classified 11th.
Reflecting on his race, Daniel said, “I’m really disappointed about today’s result. We can’t change the result now but I don’t understand how I could have been speeding in the pit lane during the race as I was so careful. It’s a very frustrating way to end a weekend which started off so well for us. Without the penalty we would have been looking at a podium finish. Now I need to focus on the next race at Silverstone which has been a very strong track for me in the past.”
Daniel will return to the track for the next Formula Renault 3.5 race in two weeks time at Silverstone, just minutes from his UK home in Milton Keynes.
