Ricciardo’s impressive performance in the first practice session (P1) could be a positive indication for Red Bull’s affiliated teams as they kick off the F1 season.
During the initial practice session before the Bahrain Grand Prix, Max Verstappen appeared far from satisfied. Despite finishing in sixth place in P1, the 26-year-old driver expressed his disappointment with his car’s performance, while Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest lap time.
Verstappen, who was expected to be a front-runner for victory on Saturday, openly voiced his frustration through his microphone, stating, “everything is terrible… it’s like we’re miles behind.”
In the same session, Ricciardo, representing RB, Red Bull’s subsidiary team, narrowly outperformed McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.032 seconds, with Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri taking third place.
This promising performance by Ricciardo in P1 could indicate a positive start to the F1 season for Red Bull’s affiliated teams.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, finished the session in ninth place, while his teammate George Russell secured seventh place.
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, finally spoke out on Sky Sports after being cleared of misconduct allegations following an investigation.
Horner emphasized his focus on the upcoming grand prix and the season ahead, stating, “Our main focus now is on the grand prix and the season ahead, as we aim to defend both of our titles.”
However, he chose not to provide further details on the investigation’s outcome, stating, “I’m glad the process is over, but I cannot comment on it.”
When asked about the team’s unity amid rumors of discord, Horner confidently stated, “Within the team, our unity has never been stronger.”