‘Makes no sense’: Daniel Ricciardo stitched up by McLaren team orders at Azerbaijan GP

Daniel Ricciardo had a much-improved result in Azerbaijan but it could have been even better if he wasn’t stitched up by his own team.

Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth in a much-improved performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that could arguably have been even better if his own team didn’t hold him back.

Max Verstappen won the race ahead of Sergio Perez and George Russell as both Ferraris had engine failures and were forced to retire.

Starting 12th on the grid, Ricciardo drove an excellent first stint on hard tyres and made his way through the field and got up as far as P5.

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He was right behind Lando Norris and had better pace than his teammate in the early stages.

Ricciardo wanted to overtake Norris so he could have a crack at overtaking Fernando Alonso in front, but was ordered by McLaren to back off and told not to not pass Norris.

“If this is his best pace, I’ve got more,” Ricciardo said over team radio.

Lando Norris leads Daniel Ricciardo during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“If I sit behind any longer I’m going to get eaten up by (Pierre) Gasly,” a clearly frustrated Ricciardo said as the AlphaTauri closed in on him.

Norris eventually got out of the way by pitting but by then Ricciardo had lost his advantage and it was too late as he was soon passed by Gasly and Lewis Hamilton.

“Holding up Daniel Ricciardo didn’t pay off for McLaren,” Sky Sports commentator Paul di Resta said.

“What could Daniel have done if he’d been let loose on the hard tyre when that was the faster tyre at the beginning.”

Ricciardo managed to stay ahead of Norris by taking his only pit stop halfway through the race during a virtual safety car period.

Norris caught up to Ricciardo and had better pace in the closing stages of the race but this time it was the young Brit who received team orders not to overtake his teammate.

McLaren’s team orders were a real head-scratcher. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Norris ultimately finished one spot behind Ricciardo in ninth but made it clear over team radio he wasn’t overly impressed by McLaren’s instructions.

“Of course it’s a race and I want to finish eighth,” Norris said after the race.

“The end was just racing for pure position. It’s not like he let me go or whatever.

“I understand that but at the same time we’re here to race. I think we know that. I’m not going to say anything because it’s fair I think what we did.

“Just to end the race, you want to race to finish. It wouldn’t have mattered if it’s eighth or ninth but as a driver you just want to be that further ahead position.”

Norris believed there was “a small difference between what happens in the middle of the race just fighting for finish position when there’s no risk at the end.”

“I think the team did a good job, I’m happy with that, nothing to complain about,” he said.

F1 fans were convinced McLaren’s team orders stitched Ricciardo up when he arguably could have finished as high as fifth if given the chance to attack when he had the pace.

Motorsport writer Michael Lamonato tweeted: “Keeping Ricciardo behind Norris despite being faster now makes no sense — doubly so given he’s on a different strategy.”

Ricciardo in search of pace all year: yes, found it!

McLaren: stop, slow down pls. #AzerbaijanGP#f1

— Rory Flanagan (@Rory_Flanagan) June 12, 2022

After Ricciardo says “I’ve got more pace” …. In the weeks after McLaren says it’s been disappointed by his performances #AzerbaijanGP#BakuGP#F1https://t.co/5gYr1fOEJK

— Daniel Miles (@danielmiles) June 12, 2022

Bugger off Lando. Come on Danny.

— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) June 12, 2022

Ricciardo has copped the raw end of the deal here… #AzerbaijanGP

— TAB (@tabcomau) June 12, 2022

Ricciardo said he would have liked the opportunity to attack Alonso early in the race but the team orders evened themselves out in the end.

“Happy to be back in the points,” he said.

“Obviously you want to be quicker but as a team I think we maximised what we could do.

“We obviously played around a bit with team orders. I think in the end it kind of neutralised itself and I don’t we could have attacked Fernando any differently.

Daniel Ricciardo was much improved in Azerbaijan. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)

“At the beginning of course I was feeling I could attack and obviously wanted to but had to obey and control myself. But these are things we talk about before the race so it’s not a shock or a surprise.

“With two or three laps to go I was told we were going to hold positions so I guess the favour got returned.

“We’ll probably talk about it now … but happy to be back in the points and both cars. On a weekend where we struggled with overall pace as a team, happy with that.”

It was just the second time Ricciardo has had a top 10 finish this season and he said the result was promising given his recent struggles.

“Happy to be back in the points for sure,” he said.

“I know I’m not perfect yet with this car but I think we did make a really good step this weekend.”

Former world champion Damon Hill said the result was “just what the doctor ordered” for Ricciardo.

Paul di Resta added: “Formula One needs Daniel in there. He’s such a key character in the paddock when he’s driving like this.

“You want Daniel to take some momentum from this into next weekend as well.”