Emilia Romagna: First-lap clash stops Daniel's momentum at Imola

Contact with Carlos Sainz after a strong qualifying and Sprint Race puts a dampener on Daniel's weekend at a drizzly Imola.

Race data
Emilia Romagna (round 4 of 23), 24 April 2022
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola), 63 laps, 4.909km
Qualified: 6th (Sprint Race: 6th)
Finished: 18th
Laps per position: 12 laps (15th), 2 laps (17th), 43 laps (18th), 5 laps (19th).
Pit stops/tyres: Lap 2 (intermediate/intermediate), lap 16 (intermediate/medium), lap 30 (medium/hard).
Fastest lap: 1:21.577 (14th, lap 61)
Points this event: 3
Points this season: 11 (11th in world championship)

Daniel's download
"When you have contact like that at the start … it's kind of the worst Sunday you can have because you have an incident, you have damage, you're at the back and you still keep going, but you're not competitive. It's not that I wish to be Carlos (Sainz) today, but sometimes in a way it's easier when it's done and all over. I know that sounds negative! But we were at the back, it was slow and we were trying to gather some data, but we'll have to see what the damage was and how much it was really hurting us. It felt a bit like Hungary last year where the car was damaged, but still driveable. They're long afternoons when you're in that position on the first lap.

"The start … I remember getting a hit, but I think that was secondary. I got onto the kerb, I know it's going to bottle up at some point so tried to give myself a little more space, but as soon as I got onto it I started sliding straight off it. I slid up into the track and then obviously straight into Carlos. Once he was turned around I got some help (hit by Valtteri Bottas from behind). I'll see if I could have done anything different … but it you go slower into Turn 1 and be more cautious then someone's going to probably do the same to you. It felt like it was all under control, but it wasn't. I went to see Carlos and apologised, it's not fun to ruin your day and someone else's at the same time. I obviously have to be accountable, I don't think it was something where I was all locked up and ploughed into him, so obviously tricky conditions. Just one of those days, unfortunately. One to forget, but the Sprint was pretty good at least and I left here with some points from that.

"Miami next, and something new for all of us. I've been there before – for the Super Bowl – and the city is going to be up for it. It'll be a hectic time but I'm looking forward to it."

How Daniel's race unfolded
* Qualified sixth, then finished sixth in Saturday's 21-lap sprint race.
* Made contact with Sainz/Ferrari on first lap, dropped to last.
* Pitted on lap 2 for repairs/change to another set of intermediate tyres, re-joined in 19th place.
* Advanced to 18th when Alonso/Alpine retired on lap 7.
* Pitted on lap 16 for medium tyres, re-joined 18th.
* Advanced to 15th on lap 19 after Latifi/Williams, Schumacher/Haas and Zhou/Alfa Romeo all pitted.
* Pitted on lap 30 for hard tyres, re-joined 18th.
* Set his fastest lap on lap 61 of 63 (1:21.577).
* Finished 18th, one lap down on winner (Verstappen/Red Bull) and 19 seconds behind Schumacher/Haas in 17th.

Next race
Round 5: Miami (Miami International Autodrome), 8 May
Miami hosts Formula One for the first time this season, and is the first of two races in the United States this year along with Austin/Circuit of the Americas (October 23). The 11th different venue to host F1 in the USA, the 5.410km Miami International Autodrome features 19 corners in a layout that snakes its way around the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL's Miami Dolphins.