Grey clouds at Jerez as Red Bull ends first test
All focus now shifts to Bahrain.
Jan.31 (GMM) The grey drizzle matched the mood in the Red Bull garage on Friday morning, but Daniel Ricciardo was his ever upbeat self.
Asked if the troubled RB10 will be running on the last day of the opening test of 2014, he answered: "I hope so."
Actually, he did less than 10 laps before the reigning world champions, caught deep in an early-season crisis along with engine supplier Renault, called it a day.
"All focus now shifts to Bahrain," said the team.
"We have two weeks until the next test so time's on our side."
That is an optimistic view, after a nightmarish four-day tally of just 21 laps. Mercedes' Nico Rosberg did almost 100 before lunch on Friday alone, as the Brackley team got stuck into a race simulation.
Mercedes' four-day tally is 270 laps and counting, with Lewis Hamilton set to complete the running in the reliable W05.
Red Bull, in total and utter contrast, are struggling to get Adrian Newey's extreme packaging working at all with the higher cooling demands of the all-new turbo and ERS-powered Renault V6.
Quite simply, the car cannot keep the crucial 'power unit' cool enough. Burn marks were visible on the side of the Red Bull on Friday, followed by some hasty work by the mechanics to cut holes in the bodywork.
Compounding Red Bull's misery, other key rivals Ferrari and McLaren are also looking reliable, both teams racking up about 70 laps apiece by lunchtime.
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Daniel Ricciardo shares heartfelt message after first Indy 500 visit brought back "childhood feelings"
Lando Norris reunites with Daniel Ricciardo for Indy 500 celebrations after disastrous Canadian GP
Daniel Ricciardo says life feels "more real" after abrupt F1 exit
Charles Leclerc explains why Bahrain GP chaos has reinforced F1 driver fears
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
The slick tyre gamble that hurt McLaren and Ferrari's Bahrain F1 chances
Spire’s Jeff Dickerson about Joe Gibbs Racing lawsuit: ‘Where is the proof?’
Charles Leclerc explains why Bahrain GP chaos has reinforced F1 driver fears
Redemption at Road Atlanta: Kevin Estre breaks IMSA victory curse in thrilling Petit Le Mans finish
Winners and losers from an intriguing NASCAR Cup race at Las Vegas
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi
The wide world of strategy options expected in F1's Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments