Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen have clashed over qualifying tactics employed by the team at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday, which the Australian described as unfair.
Ricciardo was seen slowing ahead of team-mate Verstappen during his second flying lap in Q3, which forced Verstappen to move ahead. Radio communication between the team hinted that the pair were trying to slipstream with Verstappen gaining behind Ricciardo, but the latter felt it wasn't done in a very fair manner.
MV: "What’s going on?"
Engineer: "Overtake him [Ricciardo] mate, just overtake him."
MV: "No. Last weekend I was in front this weekend he’s in front."
Engineer: "Just overtake him."
MV: "No. It’s discipline."
Engineer: "Just focus Max."
DR: "I guess we’re not going one-for-one then."
Speaking after qualifying, Ricciardo told Sky Sports F1 that he wasn't happy with the tactics employed by the team.
"I’m not too impressed to be honest," he said. "We had three runs and I was just punching a hole for everyone and I think if you’ve got one run, fair enough…I’m not that happy, that’s all. We could have been more fair."
Verstappen was adamant that the tactics are employed at every race with the pair rotating who goes ahead, and this time it was his turn to pick up the benefit from following his Red Bull team-mate.
"We always agree before the weekend who is going in front and I was going in front in Paul Ricard and he was going in front the race before that.
"We just discussed that [before qualifying], this was his weekend to go in front, that’s how it is. It’s very simple."
He added: "Every run in Paul Ricard I was in front, so we have to do the same here."
When asked if it was "cool" between them, he replied: "Of course. We want to do the best qualifying possible, you want to beat each other, but if they say you have to drive in front the whole of qualifying, that’s what you have to do."
Team principal Christian Horner backed Verstappen's point of view, insisting Ricciardo is aware of how it works as it hasn't changed in several years.
"We have a very simply policy that’s operated for the last seven years that we alternate from race-to-race," he explained. "It’s the only way to make it fair. It was
"It was Daniel’s turn to drive out first and he felt Max might be benefiting from that, that’s why he backed up a little."
