During a safety car period in the Chinese Grand Prix, Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin collided with the back of Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren at the hairpin. The impact forced Ricciardo to retire from the race due to car damage, while Stroll continued. Despite the setback, the weekend marked an improvement for Ricciardo after a challenging start to the 2024 season. He outpaced his teammate in both the sprint and grand prix qualifying sessions and was in contention for points in both races.
Ricciardo acknowledged the disappointment of the collision but emphasized the positives from the weekend. “We took a blow to the stomach now, but we have some positives,” he said. “We felt like we were in a better place and everything came a bit more seamlessly.” Prior to the Shanghai event, Ricciardo had requested a chassis change. While it’s unclear if the old chassis had any issues, Ricciardo felt more at ease with the new one. He expressed hope that the improvements would continue in upcoming races, starting with Miami and Imola.
The Chinese Grand Prix weekend offered a mix of disappointment and encouragement for Ricciardo. While the collision with Stroll ended his race prematurely, his performance up until that point indicated progress. With a chassis change potentially making a positive difference, Ricciardo remains optimistic about turning his season around and potentially securing the coveted Red Bull seat for 2025.
