F1 News: Alex Albon And Daniel Ricciardo Crash In First Lap Red Flag During Japanese GP

Lydia Mee | Apr 7, 2024

Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo come together at Turn 2 during the 2024 Japanese GP. Both drivers are out of their cars. / Formula One X

The first lap of the Japanese Grand Prix was marred by a collision between Williams' Alex Albon and VCARB's Daniel Ricciardo, prompting an immediate red flag from race control. Both drivers were fortunate to walk away from the crash unscathed from their vehicles.

Key Takeaways:

• The collision occurred at Turn Three, leading to a halt in the race with a red flag.
• This incident marks yet another crash for a Williams car, intensifying the team's challenge as they lack a spare chassis.
• The crash appears to be a racing incident.

Nov 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alpha Tauri driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia (3) arrives / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Japanese Grand Prix witnessed a tumultuous start as Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon had contact which sent them both into the barrier at Turn Three, causing an abrupt red flag on the race. The incident led to significant damage, not only to the cars involved but also to the track's tyre barriers, indicating a potentially prolonged pause before the race could resume.

Williams finds itself in a familiar predicament, dealing with the aftermath of yet another crash involving one of its cars. The team's lack of a spare chassis adds a layer of complexity to their preparation for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, with a tight two-week window to ensure their readiness. Albon was using the original chassis, with his teammate Logan Sargeant using the repaired one, so the team will be hoping that there is no chassis damage to the FW46.

Initial analysis of onboard footage suggests the crash was a Lap 1 racing incident. Anthony Davidson of Sky Sports F1 shared his insights during the broadcast, commenting:

"I think Ricciardo reacts to Stroll on his lefthand side. That's unfortunate. It wasn't Albon's fault and it wasn't Ricciardo's.

"Ricciardo is going for the racing line and three into one doesn't really go. It's a racing incident and wrong place, wrong time for Albon."

LAP 1/53

Red flag 🔴

Albon and Ricciardo come together at Turn 2. Both drivers are out of their cars.#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/fvGWOyb104

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 7, 2024