WATCH: How Daniel Ricciardo Sacrificed His F1 Race for Lando Norris at Dutch GP

Daniel Ricciardo was asked to play team player, and help his teammate Lando Norris get ahead while blocking Sergio Perez. However, as the race progressed the plan failed as the Red Bull driver had finished ahead of him.

Norris was on new tires and was asked to attack the two Alpine up ahead. Hence, the Woking-based outfit asked their Australian driver to let Norris pass and hold up Perez.

Formula One F1 – Dutch Grand Prix – Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands – September 4, 2021 McLaren’s Lando Norris during qualifying REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Daniel Ricciardo asked to be a team player at Zandvoort

Ricciardo was running in tenth place, while Norris was slowly catching up. So McLaren decided to ask Daniel to let Norris pass as he was the faster car. The Australian realized what was at stake, and made way for his younger teammate, as they needed the points for the constructor’s championship.

His race engineer said, “We would like to swap positions please, Lando on newer tires, we’re both going to go, and get the Alpines together.” 

Norris came on the time radio, and said, “Thank you guys appreciate it.”

Then after swapping positions with Lando, he was asked to hold Perez to prevent him from passing Lando. Even if that plan eventually failed.

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How did Ricciardo’s race pan out?

The McLaren driver was starting the race from tenth on the grid and was hoping to gain some positions when the chequered flag dropped. However, that wasn’t the case this weekend at Zandvoort.

Formula One F1 – Formula One – Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan – June 3, 2021 McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo ahead of the Grand Prix REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Ricciardo was doing his level best to keep Perez behind him, but the Mexican driver overtook him. He fell down to eleventh place, falling to secure points finish for this Woking-based outfit.

Nevertheless, Ricciardo will be hoping to bounce back and in a week’s time at Monza and redeem himself in the next round of the championship.

How do you think Ricciardo faired at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort? Let us know in the comments below.

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