Ricciardo’s start to the F1 2024 season with Red Bull’s junior team RB has been disappointing as he aims for a comeback to the senior team. Rather than putting pressure on Sergio Perez, Ricciardo’s current seat seems more at risk.
During the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, Ricciardo showed signs of improvement, narrowly missing out on making Q3. However, an incident on the first lap of the race forced Ricciardo to watch from the RB garage.
Cameras focused on reserve driver Lawson, who could potentially replace Ricciardo if needed.
Ricciardo collided with Alex Albon on the opening lap, leading to both drivers hitting the barriers. This setback adds to Ricciardo’s struggles, with hopes pinned on a new chassis for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix. If Ricciardo’s performance doesn’t improve, Lawson, who impressed in previous races, could become a stronger contender for his seat.
Reflecting on the incident, Ricciardo blamed the medium tires he started on, which lacked the expected grip. He mentioned being caught in the middle during the race start and not having enough room to maneuver, leading to the collision with Albon.
