A number of drivers were in need of a big performance at the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend. We may only be four races into the season, but already some are under pressure.
One of those is Williams driver Logan Sargeant. There’s talk that the American could lose his seat not just for 2025, but before the season is out.
Sargeant is trying to prove his worth to James Vowles and co. after they benched him at the Australian Grand Prix. But if he doesn’t improve, Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli could make an early jump from F2 to F1.
Elsewhere, Sauber drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas both need to deliver. Audi are shopping around ahead of their takeover and they don’t seem particularly impressed by either driver.
Their point-less start to the new campaign won’t have helped matters, but they responded well on Friday. Both drivers reached SQ3 in a wet session, giving them a chance to end their drought.
Nico Rosberg says struggling driver just did ‘exactly’ what was required
Another driver who came into this weekend under plenty of scrutiny was Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo has been left in the shadow of teammate Yuki Tsunoda at the start of his first full season back at RB.
Tsunoda had out-paced Ricciardo in each of the first four Grand Prix qualifying hours, and also scored all six of the team’s points. The 34-year-old needed a response.
He delivered that on Friday as he beat the Japanese driver in a meaningful session for the first time all season. Tsunoda crashed out of SQ1 in ninth, while Ricciardo made the cut.
The former Red Bull driver is still very much an outsider in the hunt for points on Saturday morning, with only the top eight receiving a reward. But he may be able to carry this boost through the weekend.
Nico Rosberg was struck by the gap between the two RB drivers and, speaking on Sky Sports F1, called attention to Ricciardo’s improved showing. It was ‘exactly’ the kind of session he needed.
The 2016 world champion said: “Can we praise Daniel Ricciardo also? He gave half a second to his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, which is exactly what he needs to be doing. This is a great session for him so far.”
Will Liam Lawson replace Daniel Ricciardo?
Ricciardo has fallen so far short of expectations this year that there has even been talk that he may lose his seat to RB reserve Liam Lawson. One report claimed a change could happen as early as May.
Lawson’s camp subsequently denied that story and insisted they had ‘no idea’ where it came from. But there have been varying noises since.
One journalist is adamant that everybody in the paddock has told him that Ricciardo is safe for now. Another, however, says ‘no one would be surprised’ if Lawson was in the car before the season was out.
Marko did little to dampen the speculation when he admitted it would be ‘exciting’ to get another glimpse of the New Zealander. His first stint in the car, during an injury absence for Ricciardo in the second half of last year, lasted just five races.
Will Buxton feels, meanwhile, that the 22-year-old is an ‘almost definite’ signing for RB for 2025. Ricciardo’s job is to shut out this noise, and then quieten it with his performances on track.
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