Daniel Ricciardo in horrible Japan F1 drama in first lap disaster for Aussie driver

Daniel Ricciardo has endured a nightmare Japan Grand Prix race having crashed on just the second turn of the race as he fights off talks over his future in F1. Ricciardo was confident heading into the Japanese event and his talk of an improved position was looking promising after he secured 11th position on the grid.

Teammate Yuki Tsunoda was starting one place ahead of him. However, disaster struck just seconds into the race for the Aussie. Heading into turn two, Alex Albon was on the right of Ricciardo with the field tightly bunched. And in what was deemed just a race accident, Albon clipped the back of Ricciardo as the Aussie was most likely worried about Lance Stroll on his left.

The red flag came out after the accident with both Albon and Ricciardo crashing hard into the barriers. Max Verstappen, Tsunoda and Charles Leclerc were all heard making sure the two racers were OK after the race came to a halt for around 20 minutes.

The Sky Sports Race team were all in agreement it was an unfortunate race incident in a chaotic start. “I think Ricciardo reacts to Stroll on his lefthand side. That’s unfortunate. It wasn’t Albon’s fault and it wasn’t Ricciardo’s,” Anthony Davidson said.

“Ricciardo is going for the racing line and three into one doesn’t really go. It’s a racing incident and wrong place, wrong time for Albon.” Bernie Collins agreed and claimed it was unfortunate. “Ricciardo was looking to his left and more concerned about a car coming up to his left, so that’s why he wasn’t aware of Albon,” Collins added.

Max Verstappen won the Japan Grand Prix with Aussie Oscar Piastri finishing in eight position. Tsunoda became the first Japanese racer to score points at his home race in a historic moment.

Daniel Ricciardo in brutal start to 2024 F1 season

Ahead of this race, Ricciardo had claimed he was ready for a big race as he felt he was building momentum into the 2024 season. "It's funny because, on paper, it hasn't been good — and I know obviously as well that the results haven't been what I wanted," he told reporters on Thursday.

"But personally, the confidence and the happiness and all of that is really unchanged, so it's really just a matter now of getting a result and kind of putting a few things to rest. The place I'm in personally, I feel really good and that's why it's probably been a little bit weird to comprehend why the result hasn't happened yet.

"It's been three races, but I know that I don't need to change anything, it'll come. It's just a little bit here and there. Whatever is maybe just missing at the moment will click, and I think it's one weekend away from that.

"Even in Melbourne (at the Australian GP) where I was disappointed on paper with the weekend, of course, (after finishing 12th) and not getting points, when we kind of analyse the race, it wasn't as sad as it probably looked. We had good race pace, there are some good things that we're taking about, and we just need to put it together now. And that I will do.

"I said I would in Melbourne - and I fell short. But I will do it this weekend." Ricciardo hasn't finished above 12th so far for the RB team.