The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka delivered its fair share of drama on the opening lap as Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon found themselves entangled in a collision that prematurely ended their race campaigns.
The clash between the Red Bull (RB) and Williams drivers resulted in both retiring after a heart-stopping moment that sent them careening into the wall.
Ricciardo, starting on the medium tires, found himself under intense pressure from competitors on softer compounds as they navigated through the tight Turns 1 and 2. Albon seized an opportunity to challenge Ricciardo around the outside as they approached Turn 3.
However, as the Australian drifted across the track with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin on his inside, contact between the RB and Williams cars became inevitable, propelling them off track and into the barriers.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ricciardo and Albon offered their perspectives on the collision. Ricciardo described the chaotic start as a consequence of the field becoming “choked up” in the bottleneck of the early stages. He highlighted the struggle for grip, particularly for drivers starting on medium tires, as softer-shod rivals surged past with relative ease.
Reflecting on the incident, Ricciardo recounted, “We were just kind of scrambling obviously for some grip. By Turn 2 it had settled a little bit, but then I remember getting out of 2 still with a little bit of lack of traction and I remember an Aston on my left, so I was kind of watching that car.
“Then, as I was starting to drift to open up 3, I felt Alex. I saw his onboard and he just had so much better drive out of 2. I don’t even know if he wanted to be there, but he could see me kind of going a little bit sideways.”
Albon, on the other hand, acknowledged his better traction compared to the medium tire runners but lamented the lack of awareness from Ricciardo’s end. “I don’t think Daniel saw me and then it was just a bit of a pinching moment. I tried to back out of it but couldn’t quite get out of the way quickly enough,” he stated.
The stewards, after reviewing the incident, opted not to impose further penalties on either driver. However, the repercussions of the clash were palpable for both teams. Albon expressed concern over the damage sustained by his Williams, particularly given the team’s recent string of accidents. The impact, though not visually severe, had significant implications for the integrity of the car.
“I don’t think Daniel saw me and then it was just a bit of a pinching moment. I tried to back out of it but couldn’t quite get out of the way quickly enough. It was a tough one to take. Obviously we’re not in a great position as a team with parts and just general damage for the cars.”
“Honestly it wasn’t like a big crash, but the way that I hit the wall… it was a tyre wall, and we don’t have that many tyre walls anymore in F1. The way the tyre went under the car and it ripped the car, so the car went from a good amount of speed to zero very quickly, I’m just worried. I didn’t get a good look at it because it’s under the tyres, but hopefully it’s okay.”
The collision at Suzuka serves as a reminder of the fine margins in Formula 1, where split-second decisions can alter the course of a race and the fortunes of drivers and teams alike. As the championship progresses, Ricciardo, Albon, and their respective teams will be aiming to put this setback behind them and focus on maximizing their performance in the races to come.
Be the first to comment