Daniel Ricciardo has a change coming to his F1 car that could save his season

Daniel Ricciardo is just about at breaking point with his F1 outfit, but help is blessedly on its way for the Chinese Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo's woes deepened in Suzuka but help is on its way. Photos: Getty Images/AFP

Daniel Ricciardo is facing one of the toughest periods of his long and distinguished Formula 1 career, but help is at least on its way.

Ricciardo’s ill-fated four-race stint with Visa Cash App RB racing in 2024 hit a new low when he crashed out on Turn 2 of Sunday’s Grand Prix in Suzuka.

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All the hype and hope that greeted the veteran Aussie’s first full season with the Red Bull back-up team has been left up in smoke so far, banking zero points while teammate Yuki Tsunoda has seven points and has impressed most observers.

Ricciardo, 34, closed the gap but was just edged out by Tsunoda in qualifying in Japan before the crash robbed him of any opportunity to show his improved pace.

There is now a two-week break before the Chinese GP in Shanghai and Ricciardo is set to have a shiny new weapon at his disposal.

Daniel Ricciardo's woes deepened in Suzuka but help is on its way. Photos: Getty Images/AFP

A new chassis has been under construction for some time and is not a knee-jerk reaction from the Milton Keynes-based outfit, but Ricciardo is clearly relishing the prospect.

“That was certainly something I raised the possibility (of),” Ricciardo told Speedcafe.

“If we still are struggling, before we just tell me I’m s**t, please get that sorted.”

The veteran Australian was desperate for a good weekend at the Suzuka Grand Prix as he faces increasing pressure to retain his seat.

After failing to secure any points through the first three races, Ricciardo knew he needed a solid result in Japan to quieten the doubts rising around him.

Ricciardo is confident of a reversal of fortunes in China. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Instead, his race lasted barely 20 seconds before he collided with Williams driver Alex Albon and slammed into the barriers as both men were knocked out of the race.

Replays showed Ricciardo went to adjust to the racing line after seeing the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll on his inside, but didn’t see the Williams of Albon had snuck up on his outside.

Commentator Anthony Davidson felt neither driver was at fault as a red flag came out.

“(Albon) got himself in a risky position just from being on the outside of the track,” Davidson said.

“For me that’s just a racing incident, wrong place, wrong time.

“It wasn’t Albon’s fault, it wasn’t Ricciardo’s fault, it’s a racing incident.”

Albon said straight after the incident Ricciardo had closed him off.

“He just squeezed me,” Albon said over radio. “Nowhere to go.”

The new RB chassis has been under construction for some time. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)

Commentator David Croft then made the comment that many Aussie race fans must have been feeling as they watched the West Australian crash out so early in the crunch Grand Prix.

“A penny for the thoughts of Daniel Ricciardo, who needed a clean weekend, wanted a clean weekend, and sadly for him has not go this,” he said.

Ever the optimist, Ricciardo remains confident he can start to turn his season around in China, with young gun and RB back-up driver Liam Lawson breathing down his neck.

“It would have been nice to get a race under our belt and try to show a little bit of something that I felt we were starting to show yesterday,” Ricciardo said, per Autosport.

“We’ll do that in China.”

The Chinese Grand Prix gets underway with practice sessions on April 19 ahead of the race on April 21 at the Shanghai International Circuit.