Daniel Ricciardo has had a difficult start to the 2024 F1 season compared to his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.
Daniel Ricciardo (via IMAGO)
Entering the season, Ricciardo was considered the top driver in the team. However, a disastrous weekend in Saudi Arabia did not meet the expectations of the Australian. After the race, Ricciardo attributed his poor performance to his car and highlighted its shortcomings.
Ricciardo qualified behind Tsunoda for the race on Saturday. Despite this, the 34-year-old remained optimistic about the race and aimed to finish with more points. Unfortunately, the race turned out even worse for him as he experienced a slow pit stop and spun later on, causing him to fall behind in the field.
During his interaction with the media, Ricciardo explained:
Daniel Ricciardo further discussed his underwhelming performance during the race and shared the issues with the 2024 car. As a result, he finished 16th in the race and provided feedback to the engineers in Faenza in order to address the car’s problems. Consequently, Ricciardo hopes for a better outcome in Melbourne and for the car’s flaws to be resolved by then.
With a disappointing weekend in Saudi Arabia and two unsuccessful qualifying sessions at the beginning of the 2024 season, Ricciardo has started the campaign at a disadvantage. As a result, he could face consequences if he fails to improve in the upcoming races.
When Marko was asked about the performance of the VCARB drivers, he stated:
The Austrian emphasized that Tsunoda has been on par with Ricciardo in the first two rounds. Additionally, Ricciardo’s qualifying speed has decreased and exceptional performances like the one in Mexico could revive his chances of securing the Red Bull seat.
However, there is still a long way to go before the end of the season and Ricciardo will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself on the fiercely competitive F1 grid. Furthermore, the 34-year-old is the leading contender for the Red Bull seat and is actively pursuing it.