Embarrassing act shows it can’t get much worse for Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo has left commentators in disbelief after an embarrassing moment at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo had an ugly moment. Photo: Sky Sports.

This is one Daniel Ricciardo will want to forget.

The Australian limped into the pits in 16th spot during Sunday morning’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which ended with another masterclass Red Bull 1-2 finish.

World champion Max Verstappen finished with a comfortable gap ahead of teammate Sergio Perez, while Charles Leclerc got the third spot on the podium and Aussie Oscar Piastri was fourth.

Ricciardo was never a factor in the race after a poor qualifying session on Saturday where he was eliminated in Q1.

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It got worse for the Visa Cash App driver on Sunday with an embarrassing moment on Lap 49 of 50 when he bizarrely spun out at a chicane.

The sight of Ricciardo losing control left Sky Sports commentators Simon Lazenby and Karun Chandhok in disbelief and both said the 34-year-old must have been tagged from behind.

Except replays showed Ricciardo simply slid across the kerb without any explanation.

No way Ricciardo just spun on his own 😭 pic.twitter.com/T0pwPkQcTv

— Buc Nasty 🏁 (@premystic) March 9, 2024

It was another blow in Ricciardo’s hopes of being promoted to the senior Red Bull team in 2025.

“It’s very odd,” Chandhok said.

“You have to say, in that fight for the Red Bull seat. Perez has done a very good job. Seven and a half seconds behind Max is a very, very solid performance and that’s exactly what they want. They want him to be ahead of everyone else and to just be there if Max has an issue.”

Lazenby said: “It’s been a frustrating night for Danny Ricciardo. He hasn’t been able to make an impression.

“Lost places at the start and hasn’t really made an impression on this race.”

Daniel Ricciardo had an ugly moment. Photo: Sky Sports.

Ricciardo’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda slid down to 14th.

Meanwhile, Verstappen dominated from pole position to chequered flag to finish 13.643 seconds ahead of Perez, who hung on to second despite taking a five-second penalty for an unsafe release from a pit-stop.

The pair finished 18.6 seconds clear of Leclerc of Ferrari, whose teammate British teenager Oliver Bearman, at 18 the youngest ever Ferrari driver and third-youngest in F1 history, came home a remarkable seventh to make a points-scoring debut.

Bearman, watched by his father David and Carlos Sainz, whose seat he was given when the Spaniard went into hospital for the removal of his appendix on Friday morning, drove with impressive calmness and aplomb.

Piastri finished fourth for McLaren ahead of Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, George Russell of Mercedes and Bearman with two more Britons Lando Norris and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton taking eighth and ninth for McLaren and Mercedes.

Nico Hulkenberg finished 10th for Haas.

It was Verstappen’s ninth consecutive victory, his second this year in Red Bull’s second one-two finish and the 100th podium of his career, bringing him his 56th F1 win.

“It’s one of the more physical races, a tough one,” said Verstappen.

Kevin Magnussen leads Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoda, Alexander Albon and Daniel Ricciard. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images.

Perez said: “Overall, it is a great day for the team, on a different track to Bahrain, and now we have to keep this momentum going.”

“It was a bit boring because the Red Bulls were too quick,” said Leclerc, who clocked the fastest lap.

He praised his unexpected new teammate.

“Ollie did an incredible job... Today, seventh in his first race - it’s hugely impressive. He is hugely talented.”

After another day of paddock intrigue, resulting in Red Bull calming troubled waters with senior advisor Helmut Marko confirmed as staying in his post to the satisfaction of Verstappen, there was great anticipation on the grid ahead of the floodlit race.

Bearman was the centre of attention and showed no nerves as he lined up 11th. Pierre Gasly reported a gearbox problem to Alpine before the start when Verstappen pulled clear and Leclerc fought off a challenge from Perez, but the Mexican came back to take second at the start of lap four.

Bearman stayed out of trouble as Gasly became the first retirement in 2024.

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen lifts his trophy in Jeddah. Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP.

“You are doing well, really well, but we are quicker than the cars in front,” Ferrari told him in an early nudge to begin attacking before Lance Stroll lost control of his Aston Martin at Turn 22, smacking heavily into the barriers.

The Safety Car was deployed, with Verstappen pitting for hards, gifting Norris the lead. The champion rejoined second ahead of Hamilton, who also did not pit.

On the re-start, Bearman — who had pitted — made his first F1 passing move, lunging inside Yuki Tsunoda for 11th while Norris pulled a second clear of Verstappen at the front.

The Dutchman sized up his prey and swept past Norris with the aid of DRS (Drag Reduction System) into Turn One on lap 13 to regain the lead while Perez, who had also pitted, took third from Hamilton.

Bearman soon passed Zhou Guanyu for 10th.

On lap 18, Perez found his way past Norris to make it a Red Bull one-two, with the champion ahead by 5.3 seconds, before Bearman’s next move - up to ninth by passing Hulkenberg’s Haas.

By lap 25, it was Verstappen leading Perez by seven seconds with Norris a battling third, resisting Leclerc until lap 27.

McLaren pitted Norris with 12 laps remaining.

He came out eighth, part of a train of four British drivers from sixth, Russell, to ninth, Hamilton, with Bearman and Norris in between.

For the teenager, in the longest race of his life, it was a test of fitness, nerve and stamina.... And he passed with flying colours.