(Motorsport-Total.com) – The smile had disappeared from Daniel Ricciardo's face. With serious expression, the Australian wrestled on race Sunday in Belgium for composure. The news of the accidental death of the first (*********************************************) Junior pilots Anthoine Hubert had the factory driver doubt his profession just hours before the Grand Prix, and suddenly a race result did not seem that important anymore. A week later Ricciardo is still struck by the immediacy of death.
“I definitely felt better after the race on Sunday evening.” Those (**********************************************************************) – year-old. “After the race, I felt that a lot of load had fallen off my shoulders.”
For the night before the race, he asked himself some essential questions. “
Finally, there are still cars that drive in a circle ,” he said after the Grand Prix. He had wondered if it was morally correct to race at all.
“I was not sure if I wanted to drive ” then I should not drive the race in this mental state, “he expresses his thoughts immediately before the race.
Ricciardo finally rose – obviously stunned whether the tragic events in Formula 2 Race – into the RS He finished the race in rank 30. “When I got in the car, I was not sure if I really wanted to race, then when it started and we did the lap to the grid, it felt okay.”
He found out that it was not fear that plagued him, but profound mourning for the passing away of Hubert. If it had really been a form of fear, then he would have gotten out of the car, he admits also openly.
Ricciardo describes on Friday in Monza, that he started the journey home from Belgium with a few other pilots. “We talked about it, it helped.” Even a few quiet days at home in Monaco helped the Renault driver to recover mentally.
Like Ricciardo felt after the Japanese Grand Prix . As soon as Jules Bianchi collided with the overhead crane, the riders immediately realized that something bad had happened. “Even then we were pilots eating together in the evening and have talked about it, which helped.”
This type of group therapy has a positive effect, since the individual driver knew that he was with his Feelings are not alone, describes Ricciardo. After Bianchi's death in summer and that such a drama can not happen anymore.
“If it happens, it's a big shock”
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* When he saw the Formula 2 accident on Saturday, he instinctively knew that something bad had happened.
“There's a feeling of being in the pit of your stomach, you know when Accident is bad, “he can say from his experience. Not even a week after the tragic outcome of the crash, the show continues. The riders barely had time to realize what happened.
Nevertheless, Ricciardo asserts: “Going back this weekend is okay for me, I'm not worried. Returning to the routine and slowly moving on, as we did after Jules, “he says, adding,” but of course we will always remember her. “
The return to normality should not be considered disrespectful Ricciardo is important to emphasize. “That's the only thing we can really do.” However, the Formula 2 accident has immediately sparked a safety debate in motorsport.
The FIA already has a (Saturday) Investigation of the accident started, also discussions about a possible change of Race track in Spa have flared up. “Time goes by and if nothing happens, then we talk about that the tracks have become much too safe,” Ricciardo points out an absurd contradiction.
“Then it is debated whether The walls can not be set up a little closer to the track to make it a bit more difficult for the riders, but that's really difficult, I think the track safety and those of the vehicles are two pairs of shoes, “the Australian tries to distinguish
Ricciardo agrees to Hamilton: “Be true fans!”
While expressly praising the FIA's efforts to improve the routes, the risk remains in the car. “Because when we drive with 22 km / h, then it always will Situations that put us in a dangerous position – that's what this sport is all about. “
Without looking closely at the Formula 2 accident, Ricciardo is certain that the race cars can be further improved. But he also admits, “I think the collision was so intense that I did not know what would have helped.”
Finally, Juan Manuel Correa came around Hubert. “Even if we make everything as safe as possible, we are not in a magical bubble at these speeds.”
Ricciardo is aware that his profession exposes him to dangerously dangerous situations , Lewis Hamilton criticized after the accident, especially the fans , which is often not aware, believes the championship leader. Because when he crashed in Spa's third free practice session, the crowd cheered.
“Whether you like someone or not, it's a nasty habit to cheer in an accident,” he says the (**********************************************) He can also understand the fans a bit, at least some. “Because they think we'll be fine if we get hurt, but it's not like that,” he tries to explain.
Every time he sits down in his Renault and up driving the route, he exposes himself to a certain risk. “Whenever you hit a wall, whether you're okay or not, it does something to your head.” He speaks of a kind of psychological effect.
He agrees with Hamilton's statements. Although he also notes: The fans never experience a race from the perspective of a pilot. “We all look at boxing matches or UFC fights and ask for this or that, because it's just a little blood.”
But if the viewer would slip into the role of the participant, whether in a race or boxing match, he would react quite differently, Ricciardo is convinced. “This is just the nature of a sports fan who does not participate.”
He wishes therefore of all Formula 1 fans: “Be a true fan and respect what we do. ” Nachsatz: “Not only the skills, but the risk.”
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