Friday: Ricciardo and Red Bull Ready to Seize Their Chance in the Race at Monza
The two Red Bull drivers are quite satisfied with their day: while Sebastian Vettel was able to enjoy a calm Friday, Daniel Ricciardo experienced an engine problem with his F1 during FP1 but believes there could be an opportunity to seize during the Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel (No. 1) – 6th and 7th
The four-time reigning world champion experienced a calm day, unlike in Spa: « It was quite slippery on the track; this year’s cars have less grip, and we have minimal downforce at Monza. It was a good day for us, we didn’t have any issues and were able to do a lot of laps and test things. »
If he mainly considers a conservative strategy, he acknowledges that the tires haven’t been ideal today: The tires suggest there should be only one stop on Sunday, but we’ll see. I think some have struggled to make them work; there isn’t much difference between the mediums and the hards. I think tomorrow will be better because it should be warmer and the track will have rubbered in a bit.
Daniel Ricciardo (No. 3) – 15th and 10th
The Australian’s day was greatly disrupted by a morning technical issue: « We didn’t get much running this morning due to an engine problem, but it was okay and we came back well in the afternoon. »
His performance does not fully satisfy him, but he thinks his Red Bull is capable of a very good result on Sunday: « Obviously, we want to be a bit higher, but I think we can gain some ground tomorrow; the Mercedes will be fast, but if we can place in the top 5 in qualifying, then we will have a good chance in the race. »
Like his teammate, the tires are a concern: « Getting the tires up to temperature is difficult, especially for the first timed lap. »
