F1: Ricciardo says drivers opposed restart rule

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed that Formula 1's drivers made clear their unhappiness at the introduction of standing starts after safety cars in 2015 when consulted by teams.

The decision to force drivers to form up the grid for a restart after caution periods has drawn much criticism since it was approved by teams and the FIA. Ricciardo questions both the sporting fairness and safety aspects of it, and says his unease at the move is not unique.

When asked if F1 drivers had been asked for their opinion on the idea and discussed it, he said: "We did, we all pretty much disagreed as far as I am aware.

"I will let the veteran drivers speak their minds. I said I don't think it is the best thing. We will see what other drivers say about it."

Ricciardo thinks both the fairness issues and safety matters are as important as each other in relation to the new rule.

"I don't want to go into it too much, but if you are leading the race by 20 seconds, the safety car comes out and you lose that 20 seconds advantage, then what was looking like an easy victory is still questionable.

"That is already a big disadvantage for the leader who has worked hard to build up that gap. To then put him on the start, and anything can happen at the starts, not only an accident, but you get a poor start you can be from first to fourth before Turn 1, it seems harsh on the leader.

"Then what is happening with the tires? If you cannot change them you will lose a lot of temperature. At first my argument was the big disadvantage for the leader, but the big one that everyone is talking about is safety.

"Starts in F1 are already quite tight a lot of the time and that is with new tires, and tire warmers. If we have tires with 20 laps on them or even more, because when there is a lot of rubber that has been taken off the tires, they don't hold temperature, it will be significantly more difficult."

F1 tire supplier Pirelli suggested this week that proper research was needed to understand the safety implications of cars starting on used tires.