Daniel Ricciardo crashes at Japanese Grand Prix after hitting Alex Albon as Australia’s dismal Formula 1 season goes from bad to worse

Daniel Ricciardo’s season has gone from bad to worse after the under-fire RB driver crashed during the Japanese Grand Prix.

The 34-year-old Ricciardo collided with Alex Albon just after the first corner of the opening lap of the race, sending him and the British driver into the barriers.

Due to the severity of the crash, the stewards waved red flags and the race resumed once the mess had been cleared. Neither driver was seriously injured.

Max Verstappen went on to win the race and reckoned Ricciardo was preoccupied with Lance Stroll on his left, meaning he couldn’t see Albon on his right.

“You saw that Daniel controlled the left side,” said Verstappen. “It’s quite a shame.”

The Australian’s season has not yet started after a slow first four races

“He (Albon) is in his blind spot,” Sergio Perez added.

Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson said: ‘I think Ricciardo is reacting to Stroll on his left. That’s too bad. It wasn’t Albon’s fault and it wasn’t Ricciardo’s.

‘Ricciardo goes for the racing line and three in one doesn’t really work. “It’s a racing incident and the wrong place and the wrong time for Albon.”

“Ricciardo was looking to his left and was more concerned about a car coming to his left, so that’s why he wasn’t aware of Albon,” added Bernie Collins.

Ricciardo, who is desperate to regain his seat at all-conquering Red Bull in 2025, has made a dismal start to his campaign.

The Australian has finished outside the points in all four races so far and was surpassed by teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who finished tenth at his home Grand Prix.

Ahead of Sunday’s race, Ricciardo insisted he remained optimistic about the season ahead.

“It’s funny because on paper it wasn’t good – and of course I know the results are not what I wanted,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“But personally the confidence and the happiness and all that is basically unchanged, so now it’s really just a matter of getting a result and putting a few things to rest.

“Where I am personally, I feel very good and that’s why it was probably a bit strange to understand why the result hasn’t been achieved yet.

Ricciardo had to watch as teammate Yuki Tsunoda scored points

‘It’s been three races, but I know I don’t have to change anything, it will happen. It’s just a little bit here and there.

“What might be missing right now will click, and I think it’s still a weekend away.

‘Even in Melbourne (at the Australian GP), where on paper I was of course disappointed with the weekend (after finishing twelfth) and not getting any points, when we analyzed the race a bit it wasn’t as sad as it probably was’ looked.

“We had good race pace, there are some good things we are working on, and we just have to get it together now. And I will.

“I said I would do it in Melbourne but I came up short. But I’m going to do it this weekend.’