Daniel Ricciardo a ‘passenger’ in Red Bull Baku F1 clash

Read on the website Vestnik Kavkaza

F1 sporting chief Ross Brawn believes Daniel Ricciardo was a "passenger" in the Red Bull intra-team collision in Baku that wiped out both drivers, Crash.net reports. 

Ricciardo crashed into the back of teammate Max Verstappen in the closing stages of a crazy race in Baku as the pair battled over fourth place on the run to Turn 1. The incident left Red Bull F1 chiefs fuming, who ordered them to make an appearance at the team’s Milton Keynes factory to apologise to staff, while the FIA reprimanded both drivers. 

"I don't want to comment on who might be held responsible or how a team should manage these issues during a race, but I do think the stewards' decision to reprimand both drivers was the right course of action,” Brawn said in his post-Baku debrief released by F1.

Brawn added the incident between Ricciardo and Verstappen was ultimately “inevitable”.

"We often think of downforce in cornering, but the impact the extra grip has in braking is huge. Take away that grip in braking and what happened on Sunday was inevitable."