Officially No Longer a Fan of Ric

I've been a bit critical about Ricciardo over the last year or so. He's increasingly shown a side of him that has steadily annoyed me to the point where I might actually find myself rooting against him. He's had some **** deals the past two races... who hasn't experienced that? There's been far worse ramifications to things and strategies going wrong. In 2014 he greatly benefitted from Seb having a dreadful year of car problems that he seemed largely immune from. He won 3 races, albeit without Merc running at full strength. He seems to have somewhat hung his hat on that. I'm not going to take away anything from him as a driver. He's one of the best out there... fearless. It's his attitude that has really worn on me once I started looking past the affable nature he puts out front.

"Just save it -- nothing you could say could make it any better."

A frustrated Ricciardo bites back at Red Bull after he crosses the line when the team tries to apologise for throwing away a nailed-on victory.

At what point do you just need to be a professional and accept that things go wrong where there's no fault of your own? How many real contenders have had seemingly ridiculous car issues due to oversight? How many real contenders with perhaps a WDC on the line have been knocked out of a race by someone else's ambitious drive that in the end would mean nothing? That's F1. You get pissed and move on. Lewis has certainly done it this year despite a very lopsided mechanical season of woes. Yet he's supportive and still backs his team for the most part... even going to social media to argue against the conspiracy theories. Seb... Nico... even Alonso have been towing the line and these guys have proven records with potentially more to gain. How does Ric react?

Spain:
Daniel Ricciardo 'bitter' after Red Bull strategy call in Spain

Daniel Ricciardo still frustrated by events at the Spanish GP

Monaco:
Daniel Ricciardo - Monaco the second race in a row I've been screwed

Daniel Ricciardo on Red Bull Monaco foul-up - I'm not sure where to go from here

"I'm not sure where to go from here.." Really? My God. It's time to take off your maxi-pad and do a nut check. He pretty much had half a race to get Lewis and couldn't do it. Where were his "big Australian balls" then? He also benefitted from a rolling start where he had no challenge at the start. He doesn't mention that. He's very quick to talk himself up but because he does it with his big smile, it comes across as confident as opposed to annoyingly arrogant. He credits himself more often and more quickly than any other driver that I can think of. Lewis, Seb, Nico... the top drivers right now all recognize that in this era of F1, it's a team sport. It's the hundreds of people at Milton-Keynes... all the people at the track doing a ton of work to make things happen. He's a big part of it certainly, but so are they. In these times of F1, you win as a team and you lose as a team. I don't think he gets that at all.

He wants the new engine... gets it, then discounts it's benefit. Why because it's him who makes the difference:
Daniel Ricciardo - Pace not just down to Renault upgrade

I'm sure he's being a bit facetious, but when taken in total with other comments, I wonder just how much so.

I know he has a lot of fans... I used to be one of them. It's hard not to like the guy. He's an outstanding talent and has a very unlike-F1 personality. But when I look closer and listen carefully and look past the smile that everyone talks about... to me he comes across as arrogant and ungrateful... someone who sees himself as the reason for any success and others for any failures.

I'm hoping my opinion changes in time. I think I just expect a little more fortitude in the face of adversity from these guys rather than this sorry bewilderment he's experiencing. Maybe I'm cherry-picking a bit as well, but for all the people who hate Seb or Lewis or Nico... the three who have been more or less the headliners the past couple years... and are constantly called out as whiners, babies, and worse anytime they get upset at anything... Ric has just gotten this free pass though I think he's worse than all of them combined.

 

I don't think I've started nor really contributed to any of the "sucks" thread. You seem to watch my posts carefully so I would've thought you'd not include me in those since those aren't any of mine. Also, I don't really think my posts are negative per se. Don't really see where I've said anyone sucks or are horrible like you've stated. In fact, I don't see where any of those above posts are overtly critical. In Ric's case, I point out that I do think he's an amazing talent... I just don't like how he's handled the adversity. Commenting on stories that are currently in F1 news is something I like to do because it gives everyone a chance to express their thoughts on a topic... one that I did not create. So I don't see the negativity in that and I feel like I balance any criticism fairly well.

The McLaren thread... not negative at all... just pointing out some odd commentary and noted they could be the biggest surprise if they do have something up their sleeve.

Basically, I'm sharing my thoughts on one subject or another and unlike some posters here, I at least lay out my reason behind my opinions. I'm not saying I'm right or that you need to agree with me.

I could go, but i'll stop there. You're bunching me in with a contingent of folks who relentlessly bash one particular driver or another just because they don't like them or they bash the sport itself. If you're going to call me out... which is fine by the way... do it with a bit more than the usual "just stop watching" retort... especially when your criticism is not even accurate to what I've said.

 

I don't disagree at all. I just really disapprove of how he's called his team out publically... even on the podium. I think they deserve a bit more than that from him.