Daniel Ricciardo: Renault F1 team SLAMMED for doing THIS during Bahrain Grand Prix
NICO ROSBERG slammed Renault for their managing of Daniel Ricciardo’s race in the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, after they opted to only have him make one pit stop.
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Ricciardo has had a torrid start to life at Renault, as he has suffered back-to-back retirements.
The Australian left Red Bull last season in order to sign a £26million-per-year deal at the French manufacturer.
But life at Renault has not gone well so far, as he was forced to retire from both the Australian and Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ricciardo is yet to finish a race for Renault, despite running tenth before the retirement, while his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg was sixth at the time.
After watching the star retire with just four laps remaining, Rosberg slammed the French team for their handling of Ricciardo’s race.
“Renault, my goodness they messed it up,” the German exclaimed.
“First of all with the strategy, how can they go for a one stop?
“Even all of us in front of the TV could have told them it wouldn’t work, without having any numbers or anything.
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“I don’t know how they can come up with the idea of doing a one-stop.
“They both failed in the same corner on the same lap, imagine that.
“When does that happen? Both cars out of the race.”
Speaking after the race was over, Ricciardo admitted that the retirement was a tough pill to swallow.
He also aimed a sly dig at his team for making him the only driver on the grid on a one-stop strategy.
“It was pretty heartbreaking for the team to lose both cars at the same time with a few laps to go,” he said.
“I feel for them. We will try and do better and keep learning.
“It was probably slightly more brutal for Nico [Hulkenberg], because his race was going well and mine not so well.
“I felt like half my damage was already done by the one-stop.”