Daniel Ricciardo is having a very difficult time these days. The Aussie is very slow behind the wheel of the otherwise very competitive Racing Bulls, taking a spectacular beating from Yuki Tsunoda.
What's really embarrassing is that he's taking a much bigger beating than the recently ousted Nyck de Vries has ever taken before... It's not just the fans who are upset, and the professional world is reportedly starting to take a view on Ricciardo's future. If the paddock rumours are to be believed, Helmut Marko is already sweating bullets over the otherwise likeable driver's 'performance' and has reportedly given him an ultimatum. If he is beaten by Tsunoda for the fourth time in four at the Japanese Grand Prix - which, admittedly, he has every chance of doing against a driver who is fired up by the home crowd - then down he goes, up he goes. Daniel Ricciardo is not helped by the fact that Liam Lawson, meanwhile, is also very much on the move, clearly wanting a seat for himself after his excellent run in last year's race. If "all goes well", he'll have it soon...
