Carlos Sainz insists there are “no hard feelings” with Daniel Ricciardo after the two came together at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday.
Sainz’s race came undone in the opening stages of the race after he was tagged by Ricciardo as they rounded Turn 2.
The Spaniard subsequently spun and became beached in the gravel, marking his second non-finish in as many races.
Despite the frustrations of having his grand prix ended so early, Sainz says that he is not holding a grudge over the accident, which was ruled as a racing incident by the stewards.
“Immediately after the race, you could see he had a tough one but the first thing he did, he was coming to the Ferrari box to apologise to me,” Sainz said.
“There was the whole mechanics here with me and we all thanked him for the gesture.
“That’s why there’s no hard feelings with Daniel because what happened to me could happen to anyone out there today.
“But unfortunately it had to happen to me. It’s how it is, the incident has no mystery to it, I think if you see the onboard and what happened it’s very clear to everyone.”
Ricciardo suffered damage in the incident but was able to continue his race, albeit stuck at the back of the field.
“I slid up into Carlos, and then once he was around, I got pushed further [by Valtteri Bottas] but the damage was done,” Ricciardo said.
“From memory, I think I got onto the kerb just to try and buy myself a bit more space, because I know at some point it’s going to bottle up, but I think once I got on the kerb, I just slid off it and then started to slide up into him.
“I think that’s what happened, now after the fact, and obviously intentions were in a way good, to try and leave some room.
“But in those conditions obviously I didn’t have the grip I was hopeful for, slid up into him and ruined his race as well.”
