F1 Grand Prix of Spain - PreviewsF1 Grand Prix of Spain – Previews

Daniel Ricciardo has been told to ‘hang his helmet’ by former 3x race winner, Johnny Herbert. After Jacques Villeneuve slammed the Australian in Canada, it’s almost a case of Daniel Ricciardo being attacked by a second former driver on as many race weekends.

At the F1 Canadian GP in Montreal, Jacques Villeneuve brutally criticized Daniel Ricciardo and questioned why the Australian was in F1. The Canadian didn’t stop at that part, as he said that the Australian had never been as good and a lot of his success came at the expense of a distracted Sebastian Vettel and teenage Max Verstappen.

Daniel Ricciardo, who had a strong overall Canadian GP, had a few choice words for Jacques Villeneuve, where he’d told him to ‘Eat S**t’. The incident has seen Villeneuve continue to comment on the Australian since then, even though Daniel seems to have moved on from all of that.

also-read-trendingTrending

2024 F1 Spanish GP: Where to watch Sunday’s race, all you need to know

2024 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying Results: Full starting grid for the race

When Niki Lauda’s brutal truth infuriated Lewis Hamilton at the 2016 Spanish GP that gifted Max Verstappen his maiden F1 victory

Johnny Herbert has now seemingly backed Jacques Villeneuve’s comments, with the British driver claiming that Daniel Ricciardo is not the same driver anymore. Herbert said that Villeneuve wasn’t wrong when he called Daniel a ‘product of image and modern social media’. Talking to “Lord Ping”, Herbert said,

“I saw what Jacques said and the way he said it. It was the truth. Some people don’t like the truth sometimes. Jacques was spot on. It isn’t happening for Daniel now. So, it is time for him to hang his helmet up.”

He opined on Ricciardo’s performances and added,

“Many people might not like that. But it is true. Performances have to be there and as soon as they go, then there is a question mark. I think he still believes. When someone is negative like Jacques, Daniel almost says: ‘On yer bike. You don’t know what you are talking about’. He still has what I can only think is a mental block that he can still do it.”

“I don’t see the Daniel of old” – Johnny Herbert claims Daniel Ricciardo is not the same anymore

In the same conversation with Lord Ping, Johnny Herbert also claimed that Ricciardo is not the same anymore and that the Australian’s decline started when he moved to McLaren against Lando Norris. Herbert added that before moving to McLaren, he (Ricciardo) was brilliant and a regular performer.

“I don’t see the Daniel of old. That Daniel has flown the roost. For me, it started for Daniel at McLaren and Lando. Lando was quicker than him. He had one offs such as at Monza, but one offs aren’t enough. It has to be every time. That is what Lando, Oscar, Max, Charlie, and Carlos are all doing. The good ones can do it all the time,” Herbert said.

Ricciardo made quite a few harsh comments about Jacques Villeneuve when the latter criticized him in Canada. Will the Australian do the same again in Barcelona and give it back to Johnny is something that remains to be seen. The Australian did have a strong run in the previous race though and will be looking to build on it in Barcelona.