Ricciardo comments on Australian F1GP Win by Mercedes as `boring’

Aussie F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo is among a group of drivers that feel the future of Formula One is diminishing after labeling the Mercedes’ one-two procession in the Australian Grand Prix as “boring”!

Lewis Hamilton who won the event, and his teammate Nico Rosberg in second place, lapped all the drivers except three at Albert Park in Melbourne in a race that was more a Mercedes parade than a race.

“I feel a bit for the fans,” said Australia’s Ricciardo, who finished sixth.

“It was a boring race. It was frustrating.”

Hamilton, from pole position, and Rosberg, from second spot, were never challenged by a field of just 15 cars, which third-placed Sebastian Vettel said damaged the sport.

Both cars from Team Lotus retired before completing a lap and only 11 drivers finished the season-opening event.

“For sure it’s not great for the people,” Vettel said.

“(Formula One) is a difficult challenge. It is complicated – maybe it got a bit too complicated.”

Vettel, on his first run for Ferrari, conceded that bridging the 34 second gap between him and Hamilton would be “difficult but not impossible” this season.

“It’s a big gap – 34 seconds down the road is a lot for everyone else,” he said.

“It can turn around a little bit for the next grand prix but it could be even worse.”

Even Mercedes’ victors wished for a greater challenge from the likes of Ferrari.

“I hope you can give us a challenge because it’s important for the sport and for the fans,” Rosberg said.

“And a part of me thinks about the show because I want to give people a great time at home watching on TV or at the track.”

But Vettel scoffed at Rosberg’s sentiment.

“You really hope so, seriously?” Vettel said.

“You finish 30 seconds in front of us and … you hope you slow down?

“A suggestion, if you don’t mind, is your garage becomes public for Malaysia and everyone can have a look.”

Mercedes last year won the drivers’ and constructors’ titles and set a record 16 race wins in a season.

Hamilton won 11 of those races as Mercedes set a record 11 one-two finishes in a season. The team also equaled Red Bull Racing’s 2011 record for most pole positions in a season with 18.

On Sunday, England’s reigning champion Hamilton easily won his 34th career grand prix: within six laps he was already 2.6 seconds ahead of Rosberg.

“Once you get a two-second gap you try and manage that. ” Hamilton said.

“It was a phenomenal race for both of us.”

Source: AAP