Ricciardo welcomes summer break after ‘growing frustrations’ with car problems

Daniel Ricciardo says he thinks the summer break is coming at a good time after what he describes as ‘growing frustrations with these problems’.

Speaking after a disappointing wet qualifying session in which he secured only 12th on the grid, Ricciardo says he welcomes the opportunity to have a break from driving due to ‘growing frustrations’.

“I need some time away from the car,” says Ricciardo. “I’m obviously growing frustrated with these problems. It’s probably healthy for me to have a bit of time off.”

Ricciardo has not appeared on the podium since winning the Monaco Grand Prix in May and has retired from two of the last three races with mechanical issues.

“I said after Monaco… I kind of joked that my year was done,” says Ricciardo. “But stuff that. It’s been a rough run since. I can’t really seem to get a break I guess.

“I think we had a triple header to try and get one and now this is a double header and at least up to today it hasn’t really turned around. I haven’t got any revenge, so to speak. It’ll be a good time for a break.”

2018 F1 season

• McLaren staff told us we were “totally crazy” to take Honda engines in 2018 – Tost
• ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
• Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
• McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
• Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault