Austrian sauna helped Daniel Ricciardo sweat off growing frustration
Daniel Ricciardo says a trip to the sauna helped him reset his building frustration after a power failure cost him four positions at the Styrian Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo on Thursday at the Austrian Grand Prix. (F1TV)
"I think I am very passionate and therefore I do get very emotional so Sunday I was … can I say pissed," said the Australian.
"After the emotion, like once I get the blood and the heart rate down, after the race then I can appreciate that it was actually looking to be a decent Sunday and could have very well been different if we obviously didn’t have that issue."
Ricciardo said that timing of the mechanical error left him with building frustration.
"At the time these things just compound."
"In my head what I'm thinking is if the issue happened at the end of the race when we're more spread out maybe it didn't cost me a position."
"For it to happen when everyone's in such a train and to lose the positions, but these are the emotional thoughts at that present moment."
Daniel Ricciardo celebrates his birthday with Lando Norris and the McLaren team. (Fox Sports)
The Australian told the media on Thursday - which happened to be his birthday - that a Monday morning trip to the sauna helped him clear his head.
"Ultimately I woke up Monday morning, I sweated all the whatever you want to call it - anger and toxins - out of my body."
"I was in the sauna for a while and then I felt pretty good and then it was all eyes ahead for this weekend."
The McLaren driver played up the benefits of returning to the Red Bull Ring for another shot at the circuit.
"Normally you go to a track and you'll learn things and be like "okay, next year we'll do that.""
"So to be able to make amends only a few days later is good."
"I can certainly clean up my qualifying and then therefore I think the race, everything, will just flow better."
