Daniel Ricciardo is having a tough time these days. The Australian is very slow behind the wheel of the otherwise very competitive Racing Bulls, taking a spectacular beating from Yuki Tsunoda.
What's truly embarrassing is that he's taking a far bigger beating than the recently dismissed Nyck de Vries ever had before... It's not just the fans who are upset, and apparently the professional world is starting to weigh in on Ricciardo's future. If the paddock rumors are to be believed, Helmut Marko is already sweating blood over the likeable driver's "performance" and has given him an ultimatum. If he's beaten by Tsunoda for the fourth time in four races at the Japanese Grand Prix—which, admittedly, he has every chance of doing against a driver who is enthusiastically enthused by the home crowd—then he's gone, he's gone. Daniel Ricciardo isn't helped by the fact that Liam Lawson, meanwhile, is also very active, and clearly wants a seat for himself after his excellent performance in last year's race. If "all goes well," he'll soon have it...
