Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian driver for RB, expressed that he is not worried about his challenging start to the 2024 Formula 1 season. He believes that performing well in two races will overshadow his previous struggles. So far, Ricciardo has been outperformed by his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who has accumulated all seven points for RB. Ricciardo had hoped to make a strong impression from the beginning of the season to secure his return to the Red Bull team, which he left in 2018. However, he has been surprised by his difficulties in extracting speed from his VCARB 01 car. Despite a crash on the opening lap at Suzuka, Ricciardo remains optimistic that his breakthrough moment is just around the corner. When asked if he feels more pressure than usual before the Japanese Grand Prix, Ricciardo acknowledged that there may be external pressure, but he believes that the pressure he puts on himself is greater. He had a full pre-season and a successful winter training, so he expected to start the season strongly. However, he recognizes that he doesn’t need to make any drastic changes and that success will come with time. He remains confident that he is just one weekend away from everything falling into place. Even in Melbourne, he found some positives despite not scoring points and facing difficulties in qualifying. He believes that with the right adjustments, he will be able to put everything together and achieve success.
Helmut Marko, an advisor for Red Bull, who assists in determining the Formula 1 driver line-ups for the Austrian team, has expressed criticism regarding Ricciardo’s performances on a few occasions. However, Ricciardo has indicated that these comments from Marko have not affected him, as both individuals share the same understanding of the expectations placed upon them. When asked if Marko was adding pressure behind the scenes, Ricciardo responded by saying, “No, but I am aware of his expectations and desires, which align with my own. I understand that the season consists of 24 races and is quite lengthy. If I were to have two successful races, any previous poor performances would be forgotten. However, each race that passes is another opportunity, so going three races without achieving a desired result is not what Marko or the team desire. My two engineers, Pierre [Hamelin] and Patrick, have been working tirelessly, and it is crucial that we remain focused on ourselves and avoid distractions. Naturally, we all strive for positive outcomes, but they will not be achieved by receiving suggestions or advice from others. Therefore, we will continue on our current path, knowing that success will come. Unfortunately, it has not yet arrived, but I have full confidence that it will.”