Grosjean is an idiot, says Ricciardo

Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo has called Lotus’ Romain Grosjean an ‘idiot’.

On lap 62 of the Monaco Grand Prix, Grosjean drove his Lotus into the back of the Australian’s Toro Rosso ending both their races. The incident didn’t sit well with the stewards who called both the drivers for a disciplinary meeting.

Once there, the Australian chose the quick way out and didn’t quite let himself loose on the Swiss-born Frenchman.

“I came here at the beginning of last week really looking forward to the Monaco Grand Prix but now, frankly, I’m happy this one’s over. I’m keen to get to Canada and hopefully have a much better weekend,” Ricciardo wrote in his blog on the Toro Rosso website.

“The impact from the Grosjean crash was pretty hard but the car did its job and I was able to walk away, though the damage to the rear-end was pretty extensive. The chassis should be OK but it was a late night at the track for the guys in the garage sorting it all out.

Ricciardo’s car after Grosjean parked his car into the back of the Australian’s.

“For myself it was a trip to see the stewards’. I’m not surprised Romain picked up a penalty: we were in the stewards’ office together and, to be honest, I didn’t need to say much.

“They had the data and once I saw the video, it was pretty much what I thought it had been. Tom Kristensen [driver steward, eight times Le Mans winner] was there and he’s experienced enough to understand that type of collision.

“Sometimes when things like this happen, you want to blow off steam but by that point I really couldn’t be bothered shouting and screaming at Grosjean.

“It was a disappointing end to a deeply unsatisfying weekend and I didn’t want to waste the energy yelling “screw you, what the hell were you thinking?” I just said “you’re an idiot”, and that was it.

“If there’s a bright side, it’s that it didn’t cost me any points. It’s a funny sort of positive to take away but I’d have felt a lot worse if I’d been in the top ten at that stage.“