McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo has responded to Carlos Sainz calling him “dirty” during last weekend’s US Grand Prix.
The pair battled on several occasions during the race, and they made slight contact at one point in a move that Sainz described as a “bit dirty.”
Speaking after the grand prix, Ricciardo acknowledged that he made contact with Sainz and described his battle with the Spaniard as “very fun.”
“Sainz put on a good attack later on in the race as well, and we obviously went side-by-side, and a little bit of banging wheels. So it was very fun, and very needed to hold on for everything I could,” Ricciardo said.
Asked for his thoughts on Sainz describing his defensive manoeuvre as a “bit dirty”, Ricciardo said:
“That’s cool. I’m happy to be dirty. I’m a nice guy, so being dirty every now and then is alright!”
Ricciardo finished the 2021 US Grand Prix in fifth position, while Sainz crossed the finish line in P7.
Meanwhile, Sainz’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while Lando Norris ended the grand prix in P8.
With just five races of the 2021 season remaining, McLaren have a 3.5-point advantage over Ferrari in their battle for third in the Constructors’ Championship.
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