Spanish GP pain still fresh for Ricciardo

Omnisports

May 21, 2016 2:12 AM

Daniel Ricciardo admits it will take some time to get over the pain of last week's disappointing end to the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.

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An early crash between Mercedes team-mates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton saw Ricciardo take the lead in Catalunya, putting him on course for a first win since 2014.

However, Red Bull's decision to counter Sebastian Vettel's three-stop strategy led to Ricciardo dropping from first to fourth, allowing 18-year-old team-mate Max Verstappen to take the win in his debut for the team.

Ricciardo revealed he is not finding it easy to move on from the result and admits he still wakes up in the morning with it on his mind.

"The outcome of the race was frustrating," the Australian said.

"Is it easy to move on? I wouldn't say easy. Can you move on? Absolutely.

"It's been a few days since the race and I still wake up with it on my mind.

"I'm going to bed with it off my mind, but I'm waking up with it on my mind, so it will take a bit of time."

The 26-year-old said his frustrations have been exacerbated because he feels he has deserved more than what the results say so far this season.

"I feel there's always been something better to have and available for me, so it's now like 'Ah, come on'," Ricciardo said.

"But at the same time it's just racing and that's part of it. It's a tough one. Part of me is happy the team is winning again, and part of me is happy everyone is super-motivated and confidence is high, so that's a positive I'm trying to draw myself to.

"But from a personal side it was massively frustrating. It's a tough one - sure it's a team sport, but you are doing it for yourself as well.

"It's as individual as it is team, and that balance is a tricky one to always try and manage, but obviously from a personal side it's still a hard one to take."

Omnisports