Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) RB VCARB 01 and Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing FW46 collided at the start of the race. 07.04.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Race Day.
Daniel Ricciardo refutes the idea that his crash with Alex Albon on the first lap of the Japanese Grand Prix is a continuation of his struggles in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Ricciardo had a tough start to the campaign but showed improved pace in Suzuka, coming within 0.055 seconds of making it to Q3, securing 11th place on the grid.
However, the Australian’s opportunity to capitalize on his promising starting position was cut short on the first lap when he collided with Albon at turn 3, resulting in him hitting the barrier.
Ricciardo had opted to start on the Medium compound and was engaged in a battle with Lance Stroll before the corner when Albon’s Williams, shod with soft tires, saw an opening.
Unfortunately, Ricciardo did not spot Albon in his blind spot as he maneuvered around the outside, forcing him towards the edge of the track and resulting in slight contact.
“We definitely struggled with that Medium compound,” Ricciardo admitted. “It was strange because the cars ahead seemed to have a good start.
“I believe [George] Russell and everyone in front were on the Medium compound. So it seems like Yuki [Tsunoda] and I didn’t have the grip we were expecting.
“As soon as we took off, I saw [Valtteri] Bottas and [Nico] Hulkenberg splitting us and passing. Then, going into turn one, I was in the middle, I think with Yuki, and the Alpine passed. By turn two, I thought, okay, let’s settle in. But as soon as I hit the throttle, I was still struggling.
“So, Stroll was beside me. I was trying to defend myself against him. And then, as I started to turn back for turn three, Albon was there.
“I watched the onboard camera footage of him and, honestly, I don’t even know if he meant to be there.
“But his traction with the Soft compound was much better, so he thought there was space until there wasn’t, and I didn’t see him.
“But, to be honest, I always assume someone might be there. It’s the first lap, so I never try to use the full width of the track and be completely unaware.
“But yeah, I just think there wasn’t enough space.”
Ricciardo admitted that, in hindsight, starting with the Soft compound for better traction at the start would have been the ideal choice for his race.
“All things considered, if we could go back in time, I would have started with the Soft compound,” he continued.
“But, for the record, I wanted to be on the Medium compound. It’s not something I oppose. But now, knowing what we know, the Soft compound would have been much better for us.”
When asked about his frustration regarding the missed opportunity to score points, Ricciardo expressed his disappointment. He also mentioned his frustration from the day before, when he narrowly missed out on qualifying. Despite these setbacks, he acknowledged that there were positives they can build on for the future. He emphasized the disappointment of the incidents on the first lap, as they always leave questions about what could have happened. Ricciardo expressed his sympathy not only for himself and his team, but also for Alex, as no one wants to see a fellow driver crash on the first lap.
Throughout the season so far, Ricciardo has consistently qualified behind his teammate Tsunoda. Tsunoda has been the only one to score points for the team, accumulating seven points in total. However, Ricciardo does not see his collision with Albon as part of a larger pattern of misfortune. He sees it as an isolated incident, separate from his previous difficulties. He acknowledges that over 24 races, it is likely that he may be involved in another first lap incident due to probability. Despite the disappointment of the current situation, Ricciardo does not see it as indicative of a larger trend.
Looking ahead, Ricciardo remains optimistic and views the incident as a singular moment in time. He does not believe it reflects negatively on the entire year. He believes these things happen in races and it is unfortunate when they do. However, he does not dwell on it and instead focuses on the next race in China. He mentions that he will have the opportunity to test on the track on Tuesday, which will allow him to make up for the lost laps during the race.
© 2024
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The news of the incident has shocked the player’s fans and sports enthusiasts in general. Many are disappointed with his behavior and are calling for him to be held accountable for his actions. Meanwhile, the club to which the player belongs is assessing the situation and taking appropriate measures.
As the case unfolds, we will continue to provide updates on the unfolding events. It is important to remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and the player will have the opportunity to defend himself in court.
