RB driver Daniel Ricciardo is looking at his lap one retirement from the Japanese Grand Prix in isolation, and doesn’t believe that it part of a wider narrative surrounding his start to the current F1 season.
Daniel Ricciardo emphasized that his lap one retirement in the Japanese Grand Prix was an isolated incident and not indicative of a broader streak of bad luck, despite a challenging start to his season. The stewards’ decision not to penalize him for the collision with Alex Albon supported this view, deeming it a racing incident. Ricciardo acknowledged his lackluster performance compared to his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, with uncertain prospects for his future amid competition from Liam Lawson. However, he emphasized that the Japanese Grand Prix incident was a one-off event and not a pattern. Ricciardo’s struggles were contrasted by Tsunoda’s strong showings, contributing to Red Bull’s rise in the constructors’ standings. Despite setbacks during the race weekend, Ricciardo remained optimistic, aiming to bounce back in the upcoming races, starting with the next event in China.
