A DRS glitch has left Daniel Ricciardo a frustrated sixth place following qualifying for Sunday’s British Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Ricciardo ended the session four tenths behind team-mate Max Verstappen after a software glitch caused his DRS failed to activate on his fastest lap.
Though rectified before the end of the session, the lack of DRS down the Wellington Straight cost the Australian three tenths on his fastest lap, according to team boss Christan Horner.
“I lost it between turns four and six in Q3,” Ricciardo explained.
“The last lap they figured it out but the first lap, I guess the best lap, I didn’t have it.
“To be honest it’s not going to change the world for us, it’s just a bit frustrating,” he added.
“We know we’re already a bit off the pace and down the straights we lose a lot, so when I saw I was pulling the DRS and it wasn’t working, it was more frustrating than anything.”
With Red Bull without the pace of Mercedes or Ferrari, Ricciardo is hoping the unusually hot British weather will create strategic opportunities in Sunday’s race.
“I’m really optimistic that it’s not going to be a one-stop, boring race,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be hotter tomorrow, from what I understand.
“Hopefully a two-stop (strategy) works. We chose to save a set (of tyres) in Q2, I think, a new set of softs if we need to use it in the race.
“We kind of knew in qualifying we were going to be fifth and sixth as a team, so trying to make the most of the race.”
Set to start one place ahead of Ricciardo is Verstappen, who shared his team-mate’s view that Red Bull is struggling in a straight line, though is less optimistic heading into Sunday.
“We lose more than a second on the straights,” Verstappen said.
“This track is getting less and less favourable for us which is a shame.
“The car’s strong, we all know that, but for tomorrow it’s going to be a bit warmer.
“I feel it’s going to be a bit of a struggle compared to the guys ahead.
“It’s just free laptime they gain on the straights, and then we have to push harder on our tyres, and with the heat it’s not ideal.
“But let’s see. I think most of the time when we said it’s going to be a boring race we actually got a very entertaining race, so I hope the same for tomorrow.”
The British Grand Prix begins at 2310 AEST on Sunday.
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