Daniel Ricciardo struggled with tyre strategy in Miami grand prix
Daniel Ricciardo says he struggled with tyre conditions throughout the Miami grand prix before finishing thirteenth after a post-race penalty.
Daniel Ricciardo pits for hard tyres during the Miami Grand Prix. (McLaren Racing)
The Australian was deep in the midfield throughout the race after starting fourteenth, crossing the line in eleventh place.
“It felt like an eventful race," said Ricciardo.
"There were some battles and also moments of fun but it felt like we were defending more than attacking."
"We were trying our best to hold on."
Daniel Ricciardo on Sunday in Miami. (McLaren Racing)
The McLaren driver had fallen down the order in qualifying after an issue starting his engine, and struggled with tyre strategy towards the end of the race.
"I think in the Medium stint we were able to go long at the beginning, but I’m not sure if we were that quick."
"It felt like we were able to at least keep the tyre going."
"But then with the Hard I just struggled, really struggled to get that going."
"Towards the end of the race when everything gripped-up, we just couldn’t run with the quicker cars."
Ricciardo was penalised for gaining an advantage off-track while attempting to pass Kevin Magnussen, dropping him to thirteenth in the final classification.
"So, battling hard, and thought I got close to the points there, but it just wasn’t quite enough today."
"We’ll keep at it."
"I think this circuit certainly played to a few of our weaknesses."
"Lots of long corners, lots of long straights, so we’ve got to work on that, and then hopefully Barcelona will suit us a bit more, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Ricciardo sits in eleventh place in the standings ahead of the Spanish grand prix, set to take place May 20-22 in Barcelona.
