The bells of Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula One loss of life knell have gotten deafening after the Western Australian crashed out of the Japanese Grand Prix on the second nook on Sunday.
The veteran has been on the centre of persistent rumours his future within the sport is on the road over the following month after a horrible and pointless begin to his 2024 marketing campaign.
And his probabilities of survival have gone from unhealthy to worse in a nightmare weekend, ended by spearing right into a tyre barrier on the famed Suzaku circuit.
Ricciardo didn’t take to the monitor in Free Practise One on Friday as RB examined younger Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa.
When he lastly obtained within the automotive, the second session was all however rained out.
The scenario worsened on Saturday as he was out-qualified by hometown teammate Yuki Tsunoda for the fourth race weekend in a row.
Starting from eleventh on the grid within the characteristic race, the West Aussie made a poor begin, being pressured to the surface and being handed into the primary nook.
While Ricciardo was watching the automotive push previous him on the left, he flicked out to the racing line on the surface of flip two, unaware Thai driver Albon was trying to overhaul him on his right-hand facet.
The vehicles clipped wheels, sending each autos careering by way of the gravel, solely halted by the protection limitations.
Both drivers extricated from their vehicles, which needed to be craned away, safely because the race was red-flagged.
After the Australian Grand Prix, a New Zealand news outlet indicated that Kiwi driver Liam Lawson had been informed that if Ricciardo didn’t present constructive outcomes over the following two races, together with Japan, he would change him.
However, Red Bull and RB shortly jumped to the Australian’s defence and mentioned he and the automotive had time to point out enhancements.
Lawson impressed as a reserve driver final season after Ricciardo broke his wrist within the Netherlands.