Even Horner, who would love nothing more than to see Ricciardo back to his best, recognises "his season hasn't really got going yet. He's had some difficulties. By his own admittance, he would feel he's underperformed so far this year."
As to the future, Horner maintains that "it's pretty much in Daniel’s hands". He added: "He needs to show the kind of head-turning form to make not only ourselves but potentially others take notice."
To increase the pressure, Liam Lawson, who performed superbly in standing in for Ricciardo last season, is "waiting in the wings", according to Horner, with the New Zealander "champing at the bit to get an opportunity".
Horner maintains there is "nothing pre-set or preordained as to when or even if that would take place. The priority is with the drivers who are in the race seats at the moment, and we'll see how that pans out."
Clearly, there are no guarantees for Ricciardo in either direction. He will be hoping he turned a corner in China to some extent. The next few races will confirm that otherwise he could yet suffer the same fate that befell de Vries last season.
Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.