Daniel Ricciardo has yet to earn a single point during the current 2024 F1 season. The eight-time Grand Prix victor has had a less than ideal start this year. He had hoped that his current VCARB stint would propel him towards Red Bull, but it has instead become a nightmare as he struggles against his young teammate.
During the recently concluded Japanese Grand Prix, Ricciardo suffered a DNF while his teammate Yuki Tsunoda finished in 10th place. Ricciardo is under immense pressure to perform, but Red Bull’s team principal is backing him to improve in the upcoming races.
Christian Horner believes that Ricciardo just needs one good result to kickstart his season. Ricciardo has been involved in the pinnacle of motor racing since 2011 and has a wealth of experience. Horner is not overly concerned about Ricciardo’s current state.
While Horner supports Ricciardo’s potential for good performances in the upcoming races, he also addressed the Australian’s crash at Suzuka. During the initial clashes at the event, Ricciardo collided with Williams’ driver, resulting in both of them crashing into the barriers. Horner finds it difficult to place blame on either of them for the incident.
After the Japanese GP, there are still 20 events left on the calendar, with four rounds already completed. The next race is the Chinese GP, and considering Ricciardo’s difficult run, it could be another challenging three-day outing for him. If he fails to deliver at the Shanghai International Circuit, there will likely be increased speculation about his potential departure from VCARB.