2020 Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix, Sunday

Things hadlooked good off the start with both drivers – on the preferred, right side ofthe grid – rocketing off the line to contest the top four positions at Turn 1.However, that would prove to be the downfall when Daniel was unfortunate toclip Esteban, which forced the Frenchman to spin. Daniel had been nudged byLewis Hamilton on the inside of Turn 1, which led to his minor contact withEsteban who recovered to fourteenth. Esteban was hit again by Valtteri Bottasat Turn 9, which caused a left-rear puncture and he had to pit for new Wets onlap one.

Daniel heldonto seventh until the first pit-stop, with both drivers pitting for newIntermediates on lap 10. Esteban began his recovery from there to edge his wayback into points contention. Daniel stopped again for Intermediates on lap 32,but he couldn’t get them into the optimum operating window and slipped back toninth, before conceding that position late on. Despite an impressive 48-lapeffort on Intermediates, Esteban followed Daniel home in eleventh.

The team isfifth in the Constructors’ Championship on 136 points.

DanielRicciardo, started P5, finished P10:

“We made agreat start today, but I was squashed in between Lewis [Hamilton] and Estebaninto Turn 1, so I had nowhere to go and I clipped my team-mate which is thelast thing you want to do. We lost a couple of positions from the incident andthen when we switched to the Intermediate tyres and we just couldn’t make themlast. There were moments during the race when I was told I was one of thefastest out there, then just a few laps later my tyres were completely gone soit was all a bit of a lottery. Obviously, a big congratulations to Lewis forwrapping up his seventh drivers’ championship and to do it in such a dominantfashion today is very impressive.”

EstebanOcon, started P7, finished P11:

“It was adifficult race for us today. I got hit twice at the start and that ended ourchances of scoring good points. I was happy with my start and it was probablymy best one of the year. I was third or fourth at Turn 1 and then I was unluckyto spin after Lewis [Hamilton] got close to Daniel, who clipped my rear. I thengot hit at Turn 9, which punctured my rear tyre and from there it was alwaysgoing to be hard to recover. We did our best and we move onto the next one.Congratulations to Lewis on the seventh world title.”

Marcin Budkowski, Executive Director:

“Today’s race result is very disappointing. It wasunfortunate that Daniel and Esteban touched at the start. Daniel lookedcompetitive in the first part of the race, but his pace significantly deterioratedafter his second stop as he struggled with his tyres. Esteban drove a solidrace to finish eleventh and that was the best we could have hoped for after thefirst lap incidents and the lack of pace with the Intermediate tyres. Bigcongratulations to Lewis for his seventh title. We now turn our focus to thefinal three races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi where we expect to be competitive onmore conventional and grippy surfaces and aim to fight back for third positionin the Championship.”