Ricciardo a ‘passenger’ in Red Bull Baku clash - Brawn

Daniel Ricciardo was a “passenger” in the Red Bull collision that took out both drivers at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, according to Formula 1 sporting chief Ross Brawn. 

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. 

But Brawn believes the clash was partly a result of F1’s current aerodynamic rules which make following cars particularly difficult, and refused to apportion blame on either driver. 

"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.

"But I would like to highlight a technical point. Once Daniel had settled for his line, and Max had changed direction blocking that line, the Australian became a passenger. The downforce loss experienced by Ricciardo in the wake of Verstappen's car would have made it unstoppable.”

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."