1c4072d8d159cfef2d2708ccaaea2f696032cdba

Ricciardo calls for more "common sense" over red flag rules

18:47, 24 Oct 2018

byBobby Vincent

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo believes F1 needs to use "more common sense" in their approach to the red flag rules, in relation to Sebastian Vettel's penalty in the United States last weekend.

Vettel was given a three-place penalty after not slowing down enough when the red flag was shown to the drivers in Friday's first free practice session.

The decision caused quite a bit of controversy, especially for Vettel, who felt the decision was very harsh.

Ricciardo was also penalised earlier this season at the Australian Grand Prix at the start of the 2018 campaign and he thinks the new procedure this season is not ideal.

"Like mine it (Vettel's red flag) wasn't actually for a stranded car on track," Ricciardo told Motorsport. "There wasn't really a danger, as I think it was for the gravel. So a bit of common sense as well should probably prevail.

"But I think out of fairness to me, the stewards were like - we gave Ricciardo the penalty earlier in the year so it is unfair on him if we don't give you (Vettel) a penalty as you have done pretty much the same thing.

"In a way I kind of applaud the stewards for doing that. But generally speaking, none of us should be getting penalties for that. We shouldn't be speeding but it is not like there is something upside down on the track. That is a different story."