F1 great Johnny Herbert drops brutal Daniel Ricciardo truth bomb
The heat is multiplying on Australian Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo as another great calls for him to call time on his career.
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Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has backed in the assertion Daniel Ricciardo should retire from the sport.
The Aussie came under fire during the Canadian Grand Prix in early June when 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneueve questioned his place on the grid.
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Villeneueve’s scathing attack ignited a war of words between the pair with barbs being traded over the course of the weekend.
Ricciardo didn’t mince his words when hitting back at the 53-year-old, but his comments were deemed as crossing the line.
Now Herbert has weighed into the controversial feud, coming out in support of Villeneuve’s stinging criticism.
“I saw what Jacques said and the way he said it (about Daniel Ricciardo being a social media driver). It was the truth. Some people don’t like the truth sometimes. Jacques was spot on,” Herbert said to Lord Ping.
“It isn’t happening for Daniel now. So, it is time for him to hang his helmet up. I genuinely do. Many people might not like that. But it is true. Performances have to be there and as soon as they go, then there is a question mark.
“I think he still believes. When someone is negative like Jacques, Daniel almost says: ‘On yer bike. You don’t know what you are talking about.’ He still has what I can only think is a metal block that he can still do it.”
In the wake of Villeneuve’s criticism, Ricciardo produced his best result of the season in Canada.
A qualifying masterclass saw him start from fifth on the grid before a false start penalty cost him dearly and sent him tumbling down the order.
The Aussie however fought back in the latter stages of the Canada Grand Prix to cross the finish line in eighth place and secure four points.
Despite his impressive showing, the noteworthy results have been few and far between for the eight-time Grand Prix winner.
Ricciardo’s last win came in 2021 with McLaren at Monza, prior to that the last time he stood atop the podium was in 2018 when he was with Red Bull.
It’s the inconsistency week in, week out that has led Herbert to believe the time has come for Ricciardo to walk away and allow a younger driver into the sport.
“I don’t see the Daniel of old, that Daniel has flown the roost,” Herbert said.
“For me, it started for Daniel at McLaren and Lando. Lando was quicker than him. He had one offs such as at Monza, but one offs aren’t enough. It has to be every time.
“That is what Lando, Oscar (Piastri), Max (Verstappen), Charles (Leclerc) and Carlos (Sainz) are all doing. The good ones can do it all the time. Daniel used to be able to.
“There’s no doubt he’s skilful, he used to be very on it all the time. ‘Mr Overtake’ they called him. He used to make some fantastic overtakes. But since McLaren, it hasn’t happened.”
Villeneuve doubled down on his take by stating the Aussie only scored points after he “got under his skin” and that other drivers messed up throughout the race which allowed him to claim a top 10 finish.
“Ultimately, the results have not been there. He was really good at Red Bull and since he left them, it’s been very difficult and his return hasn’t been flamboyant,” Villeneuve told CryptoSportsBetting.
“He had a good qualifying session and then an ok race marred by the false start where he got a penalty and in the end, he scored points because drivers in front of him messed up.
“He kept his nose clean, he brought home some points but that means very little in the context of the season and he needs to do more than that. It’s that simple.
“The scoreboard doesn’t lie and it’s like that for every driver. Obviously I got under his skin because it made him go faster and even Christian Horner thought that it gave him a bit of a boost and maybe he needed that.”
Ricciardo will have a chance to prove both Herbert and Villeneuve wrong when the Spanish Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday, June 23 from 11pm (AEST).
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