As of: April 9, 2024, 7:26 a.m
By: Hannes Niemeyer
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Daniel Ricciardo ended up in the gang at the race in Japan - is his time in Formula 1 about to come to an abrupt end? © IMAGO / Motorsport Images / Zak Mauger + IMAGO / Motorsport Images / Mark Sutton
Daniel Ricciardo is on the brink of Formula 1 - his early retirement from the race in Japan doesn't help. But he could now extend the grace period.
Suzuka – The drama continues, but this time Daniel Ricciardo can only do so much about it. The favorite of so many Formula 1 fans had actually hoped to be recommended again as a regular driver for the Racing Bulls in 2024 for higher tasks in Red Bull's premier class empire. So far, however, the new season is going in exactly the opposite direction. Things also got really tough at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
The qualifying for the race still gave hope. Ricciardo finished 11th, just behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda, but still within striking distance of the points. But the hope of a good result was not fulfilled for the fourth time in a row. Much more was over for Ricciardo after a few hundred meters. The Australian crashed into Alexander Albon's Williams just seconds after the start. Both drivers retired. Race finished. Zero counter again.
Formula 1 star on the brink – Ricciardo still on the brink after a crash at the Japan race
Even if Ricciardo is not to blame for the early exit, the outcome could be even more dramatic for him. Because the fan favorite is very popular with the Racing Bulls. After the two disastrous opening races in Bahrain and Jeddah, there was speculation as to whether top talent Liam Lawson would take Ricciardo's seat early in the season. According to reports, the former Grand Prix winner then received from Dr. Helmut Marko another tough ultimatum about the races in Japan and then on April 21st in China. So is it all in Shanghai for the veteran?
Maybe not quite yet. At least one technical detail is now making people sit up and take notice, which could give Ricciardo another chance to turn things around - and with which he could possibly organize a new reprieve. Because so far the team is a little in the dark as to why things aren't going so well for the 34-year-old. That's why adjustments are now being made to at least improve the problems on the car. From the race in China, Ricciardo's car will receive a new chassis. The special thing: Ricciardo himself probably suggested the exchange, “just to make sure” that the previous material was not the problem, according to reports.
Grace period just extended? Changes to Ricciardo’s Formula 1 car – “It’s good that he can put that behind him”
So a new chance for Ricciardo to earn a new reprieve? The whole thing is put into perspective by the statements of Red Bull racing director Alan Permane, who stated that the chassis was built anyway and not because of any doubts about the car. Performance problems with the current chassis are “very unlikely,” the specialist portal motorsport-total.com quotes him as saying. Permane still thinks the measure is a good thing because it gives Ricciardo some clarity: “It might be good for Daniel that he can put all this behind him, that there might be problems with the car.”
But Permane also mentions that the team has to take Ricciardo's personal preferences into account. A solution to his wish, especially when it comes to the material, could give him “more self-confidence”. “And then he slowly returns to maximum performance.”
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Meanwhile, another driver on the grid is brimming with self-confidence. Nico Hülkenberg experienced a “little miracle” in Suzuka. Real top teams could now be interested in the German.
(han)