Daniel Ricciardo’s performance in the ongoing 2024 F1 season has been extremely disappointing. Despite his comeback to F1 with VCARB (AlphaTauri), the Australian driver has been consistently outperformed in every competitive session during the first four rounds of the season.
According to a former F1 driver, Daniel Ricciardo’s mental strength is not the same as it was during his time at Red Bull. This Belgian driver believes that Ricciardo lacks the self-confidence he once had when he was regularly winning races.
Ricciardo has been struggling to perform well in Formula 1 since 2021. The former driver explained that in order to succeed in this sport, a driver must always give their best effort. If they are affected by doubt, physical issues, or any other factors, they will not perform at their best. Ricciardo’s mistakes and lack of speed indicate that his mentality is not as strong as it was when he was winning races.
Losing self-confidence and mental strength can make it difficult for a driver to regain their rhythm. Ricciardo is determined to bounce back in the upcoming race in China, despite the speculation about his future in F1.
In the early years of his career, Daniel Ricciardo was highly regarded as one of the most talented F1 drivers. He was incredibly fast during his time at Red Bull and Renault, but his performance declined when he joined McLaren.
Bouston, the former driver, acknowledged Ricciardo’s talent despite his struggles since 2021. He believes that Ricciardo still has the ability to make impressive moves and achieve great results, but he is unable to fully utilize the potential of his VCARB 01.
Even now, with a good car at his disposal, Ricciardo is unable to showcase his talent and create memorable moments on the track. This is a disappointing situation for him, as he has proven his skills in the past but is currently held back by other factors.
Bouston expressed his sadness about Ricciardo’s decline in recent years. These words of support may provide some comfort to Ricciardo amidst the criticism he has faced for his lackluster performances. The 2024 season is crucial for him, as it could either make or break his career as a driver.