Daniel Ricciardo believes the placement of the DRS zone along the Reta Oposta risks dissuading drivers from attempting a move into the Senna S.
Formula 1 uses two DRS zones at Interlagos, with one along the lengthy main straight into the Senna S, and another along the Reta Oposta into Descida do Lago, with separate detection points.
There were several occasions in Saturday’s Sprint Race in which a driver who attacked into the Senna S was immediately re-passed along the following DRS zone.
That included Ricciardo, during his battle with Sainz, which was decided in the Ferrari driver’s favour by under two-tenths of a second.
“On one hand it was nice to be in a battle,” said Ricciardo. “It certainly wasn’t a boring race. So part of my fun box is fulfilled.
“But my frustration box is also very full because we obviously had pace for points and every time I passed Carlos, you then give them the DRS for Turn 2 and beyond that.
“It was kind of like I’d pass him, I’d felt like I’d got it done, and then I’d just wave him past with DRS. I feel like it’s always been there but that detection [point] seems kind of frustrating. It encourages you not to pass in [Turn] 1. I’ll see if strategically I can make better moves tomorrow.”
Ricciardo wound up ninth, having re-passed compatriot Oscar Piastri, who lunged into Turn 8 during the AlphaTauri driver’s pursuit of Sainz.
“Frustrated with myself at Turn 8, leaving the door open for Oscar,” he said. “It was kind of then frustrating because I was in the middle – I’m trying to obviously attack Carlos but trying to then watch Oscar and I just left too much room for him.
“I lost a few laps behind him, got him back, and then in some free air with a couple of laps to go we were able to get the pace back, caught Carlos but we were one lap too short. And Lewis [Hamilton] was there as well. So what could have been. But anyway, I don’t want to be that guy.”
