Christian Horner: “Ricciardo is a big boy” / Formula 1

Both were looking for their first points of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix, then after a few seconds it was all over for them: Daniel Ricciardo in the Racing Bulls car collided with the Williams of Londoner Alex Albon, and they went off the tire wall . .

This is very annoying for the Australian and the Thai-Brit: Ricciardo had to watch his teammate Yuki Tsunoda score another World Championship point, Albon shakes Williams because the situation there when it comes to spare parts is bad.

Eight-time GP winner Daniel Ricciardo has set himself the goal of doing so well in 2024 that Red Bull Racing has no choice but to partner Max Verstappen in 2025. The two-time World Cup bronze medalist is now a mile from there. And the accident in Japan doesn’t help.

RBR team boss Christian Horner has known Daniel for many years and knows exactly what makes the man so brilliant. Horner said after the traditional Japanese doctor: “As far as I can see, Daniel briefly looked at the left side of the S passage at the critical moment, he could not see Albon behind him. To me, this is a common racing incident that can happen again and again in the rush after the start.

The 50-year-old Englishman continued: “It’s not a good place to go off the field, luckily both pilots are fine.”

Horner follows this difficult first part of the season for 243-time GP participant Ricciardo and said: “Daniel needs a consistent result and then we will see his big smile again. His team-mate Yuki Tsunoda is doing very well, and that increases the pressure on Ricciardo. But Daniel is big boy, he knows how the whole throttle industry works. I’m not worried about him.”

Japan-GP, Suzuka Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23,566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 seconds
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,866
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +26,522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44,272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45,951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48,626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Bulls Racing, +1 Round
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Round
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Round
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 Round
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 Round
outside
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, Elektrik
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, Crash

World Championship Standings (after 4 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Perez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Plate 32
07. Russell 24
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Walk 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 Punkte
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Running Bull 7
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0