Daniel Ricciardo, the driver for Red Bull Racing, is hopeful that the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix will give his Formula 1 season a much-needed boost, just like it did when he was with Renault in 2019. Ricciardo has been facing pressure to perform after a difficult start to the 2024 season, with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda outshining him in the first four races. Despite this, the Australian remains positive about his chances of turning things around, especially considering his previous success at this venue. In addition to his victory with Red Bull in 2018, Ricciardo also has fond memories of his first points finish with Renault at Shanghai. As he continues to wait for his first points of the current campaign, the former McLaren driver is filled with renewed enthusiasm and hopes to have a successful weekend.
Reflecting on his previous races at the Chinese Grand Prix, Ricciardo mentioned a standout performance in 2018 and a memorable race in 2016 where he started from the front row and led for a few laps before experiencing a puncture. He acknowledged that there were many other races worth mentioning, but he wanted to highlight the positive experiences. Looking back at the 2019 race in Shanghai, Ricciardo sees it as a turning point for his Renault campaign. After struggling in the first few races, he found something during that race that propelled him forward. This gave him a boost of confidence and set the tone for the rest of the season. Despite the current challenges, Ricciardo remains optimistic and believes that he can get the job done.
Ricciardo narrowed the gap between himself and Tsunoda to a mere 0.055 seconds at Suzuka, but his chances in the race were cut short due to a collision with Alex Albon on the opening lap.
However, Ricciardo firmly believes that his current difficulties are not a continuation of the challenges he faced at McLaren as he strives for a breakthrough performance.
When asked if he feels that it’s only a matter of time before things fall into place on the track this season, the eight-time F1 race winner responded, “Yes, it does.
“It’s interesting because I’ve been in this for about 14 years, I believe, and you would think that I’ve learned everything by now, but that’s not the case.
“Even though I’m not a rookie, I’m still learning. And while it may be a bit disheartening, it’s also what makes the sport thrilling, the fact that you’re constantly searching for something new and you can actually find it. So this endless opportunity is quite exciting.
“Did I expect to be learning this much by the fifth race? Not really, but it’s still coming from a positive place.
“It’s not like we’re struggling immensely and we’re in a deep, dark pit that’s difficult to climb out of. Not at all.
“Japan was a short race, especially on Saturday, but it was definitely encouraging.
“So now, I just need to get it done. But do I fear anything or feel incapable? Absolutely not. I am extremely content, well-prepared, and confident.”