Ricciardo opposed to reversed grids: 'The best driver should win, not the last'

The sprint races we have seen this Formula 1 season was a new concept that Formula 1 tried for the first time this year to give the fans more races. Lewis Hamilton's overtakes during the sprint race in Brazil created a lot of enthusiasm, but Daniel Ricciardo is certain after the sprint races that he never wants to see a reversed grid.

The seven-time world champion had to start from the back of the grid in the sprint race as he was disqualified for a DRS violation. He managed to drive back to fifth place, showing that sprint races can be exciting and interesting. In addition, the exciting sprint race made many people think and talk again about a reversed grid in Formula 1. Ricciardo wants to make clear in a conversation with formel1.de that he is not a fan of the reversed grids, especially because the satisfaction and pride around a victory will be completely gone.

"Don't get me wrong, Lewis starting at the back makes the race more exciting for the spectators. I'm pretty sure of that. So I think the sprint benefited from Lewis at least being on the reverse grid. It couldn't be more exciting, but I stand by my opinion that winning [also] has to be winning," said the Australian.

Satisfaction is important

Although it is fun for the fans to see such overtaking races, the McLaren driver believes that you should only win the race if you are the best. In a reversed grid situation, the driver who was last in qualifying starts the race on pole position. "I don't know how much satisfaction you can get from that. So it's probably more of a personal sense of satisfaction that would take me away from the idea of a reversed grid."