Daniel Ricciardo’s VCARB01 car was unexpectedly struck from behind by Lance Stroll during a safety car restart.
RB had hopes of achieving valuable points during the race. However, both drivers were unable to perform well throughout the weekend, resulting in a zero points tally in the sprint race. During the Grand Prix, Stroll collided with Ricciardo’s car on the safety car restart.
Ricciardo’s race in Shanghai was cut short due to the unexpected incident caused by Stroll. As they restarted under the safety car, Stroll hit the back of Ricciardo’s VCARB01 near the first corner. Ricciardo braked earlier than Stroll expected, leading to the collision. The impact caused Ricciardo’s rear to lift off the ground momentarily and sustain damage.
The incident affected Ricciardo’s performance in the slow-speed corners, causing him to lose positions and struggle around the Shanghai circuit. Stroll’s AMR24 chassis did not suffer significant damage, but he also fell down the order and currently sits in last place.
Magnussen triggered Tsunoda’s spin during the restart, and Stroll rear-ended Ricciardo. The incident had a major impact on Ricciardo’s car, making it difficult for him to compete on the circuit. Ricciardo communicated over the team radio about the damage to the underbody of the chassis. Furthermore, he encountered difficulties navigating the slow-speed corners of the Shanghai circuit.
Ricciardo’s loss of control during the turns hindered his ability to maneuver on the circuit. Consequently, the 34-year-old driver had to retire from the Chinese GP, resulting in a disappointing end to the race. Ricciardo was showing promising results compared to his Japanese teammate, but the incident cost the team a significant number of points for the Chinese weekend.
Yuki Tsunoda also experienced a similar incident during the safety car restart and had to retire from the race. As a result, RB leaves the Chinese weekend without scoring any points. Additionally, Ricciardo’s difficult season continues as he faces yet another disappointing situation. This may lead to questions about his position in the pinnacle of motorsport.