[ad_1]
Daniel Ricciardo stated he was grateful to be alive after he narrowly prevented being struck by a flying tyre in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
The race in Sao Paulo, gained by Max Verstappen, was suspended after a chaotic begin which noticed the free carcass hit Ricciardo’s rear wing following a collision between Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg.
Albon, thirteenth on the grid, drew alongside Hulkenberg forward of the primary nook, however the two machines made contact, sending the London-born driver into Hulkenberg’s Haas team-mate Kevin Magnussen after which into the barrier.
The pressure of the affect tore the left-rear off Albon’s Williams, with the bouncing tyre, which weighs 13 kilograms, narrowly flying excessive of Ricciardo’s head earlier than smashing into the again of his AlphaTauri.
Footage from Ricciardo’s cockpit reveals him turning sharply to the left to keep away from the airborne rubber.
“I noticed an enormous crash in entrance of me and many particles,” stated Ricciardo.
“I felt I used to be getting by way of it after which noticed a tyre off the rim coming at me like a frisbee by way of the air and it began getting nearer.
Daniel Ricciardo was nearly hit by a flying tyre
(Getty Photographs)
“I keep in mind ducking my head. I didn’t really feel something hit me, so I used to be completely happy, however I checked my mirrors and noticed my rear wing was just about off, so I assumed the tyre hit the wing, and that was irritating. However wanting again, it’s good it didn’t hit me.
“My speedy reduction was became disappointment as a result of I realised the race may very well be over. When you’re in race mode you don’t give it some thought, however in hindsight I’m grateful all of us received out of it secure.”
Ricciardo, 34, was in a position to limp again to the pits for the repairs following the lucky escape, whereas each Albon and Magnussen emerged unscathed, albeit out of the race.
Hulkenberg was in a position to stick with it earlier than a 25-minute delay ensued because the tyre barrier on the strategy to the opening bend was repaired.
The purple flag allowed Ricciardo’s mechanics to repair his machine, however he was a lap down for the restart.
Ricciardo continued: “The group did an amazing job fixing the automotive so we have been able to go after which I used to be advised I might begin a lap behind. All the thrill to race once more will get zapped out of you.
“Frequent sense needs to be used and we should always not have been a lap down as a result of there was not one lap of green-flag racing. It’s irritating that they ruined our day from the start.”
[ad_2]