Daniel Ricciardo, an Australian driver, was given a chance to continue his Formula 1 career with Red Bull’s sister team last season. It was expected that this opportunity would be the first step in his journey back to the seat he left in 2018. However, Ricciardo’s comeback has not been smooth sailing, and he has struggled to regain the reputation he once had as one of the most sought-after drivers in the market. Despite one impressive performance in Mexico last year, Ricciardo has been overshadowed by his less experienced teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, who has scored all seven points for the team this season.
In the early stages of his F1 career, Tsunoda was known more for his heated radio messages than his on-track performance. However, he has learned from his mistakes and is now reaping the benefits of a calmer approach behind the wheel. Despite rumors linking him to Aston Martin and Honda in 2026, Tsunoda has expressed his ultimate ambition of being promoted to Red Bull’s main team. However, it seems that he is not a top choice for Red Bull, with advisor Helmut Marko comparing Tsunoda’s performance to Max Verstappen’s 10th place finish at Suzuka.
Instead, it is widely believed that Ricciardo poses the biggest threat to Sergio Perez, the current driver at Red Bull. Since impressing during a test outing at Silverstone last summer, Ricciardo has made it clear that his goal is to return to Red Bull Racing.
In a format reminiscent of tabloid journalism, Australian racing driver Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes for a successful comeback have been dashed. Despite a full pre-season of preparation, Ricciardo has struggled to match the pace of his teammate Tsunoda. Even returning to his home circuit did not provide the boost he needed, as a mistake in qualifying resulted in his elimination from the first session. Meanwhile, Tsunoda showcased the speed of his VCARB 01 car, overtaking both Aston Martin drivers to secure a seventh-place finish. Ricciardo’s own prospects were hampered by a disappointing 18th-place start, with his lap times falling short of Tsunoda’s. Despite no major issues with his car’s balance, Ricciardo acknowledged that he lacked the same cornering speed as his teammate. He attributed his struggles to a need for more downforce and rear grip.
“But honestly, I had some difficulties with the high-speed sections in Melbourne and Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, we noticed a slight decrease in performance, so we had a partial explanation for that. However, the same issue persisted in Melbourne, particularly in Turns 9 and 10, where I was lagging behind Yuki.”
These remarks seemed reminiscent of his troubled period at McLaren, where he faced a crushing defeat by Lando Norris and was eventually released from his contract after only two seasons of what was expected to be a long-term partnership.
Nevertheless, Ricciardo refuted any comparisons between his current struggles with the rebranded RB team and his disastrous time at McLaren, which had damaged his reputation.
“Furthermore, this is not a McLaren situation. It is crucial for me to continue working closely with my engineers and not be swayed by external suggestions or advice,” he added.
“Undoubtedly, I would have preferred better results in the first three races. I am understandably dissatisfied with the outcome. However, it is imperative that we stay focused and not deviate from our intended path.”
While he has attempted to dispel any suspicions of history repeating itself from his ill-fated stint at McLaren, the fact that Ricciardo felt compelled to address this raises questions about whether lingering doubts from that period still haunt his mind and even impact his overall racing performance.
This is evident in his request for a chassis change to address any potential flaws in his car ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. It is a decision influenced by memories from his debut season with McLaren.
However, Ricciardo is determined not to fall into the same patterns that plagued him during his time with the Woking-based team. He explored various solutions in an attempt to salvage the relationship, but instead, he found himself going down dead ends that ultimately harmed his driving abilities.
In the present situation, Ricciardo is adhering to his principles and it is evident that he is still in a better mental state than in 2022 when he appeared vulnerable and lacking suitable ideas.
Ricciardo has expressed that he is disregarding the external distractions associated with his underwhelming performances, and he has not reached the same critical point that marked the end of his time at McLaren and necessitated a complete reset in order to return to Red Bull.
Tsunoda is not on the same level as Norris, but Ricciardo has not been subjected to the same beatings he experienced when competing against the British driver at McLaren. The gap between the Red Bull teammates has often been narrow, but due to the competitive nature of the lower midfield, it has resulted in a difference of several positions at times during this season.
Ricciardo closed the gap to 0.055s at Suzuka as he narrowly missed out on advancing to Q3, but he is being held to the high standards that align with his intentions at Red Bull.
However, time is running out for him to get his act together. The opportunity for a dream return to Red Bull in 2025 is fading, as it appears that Perez is destined to secure an extension.
Perez is no longer focused on trying to replicate Verstappen’s outstanding performances every weekend and being crushed in a futile attempt to match his record-breaking standards. Instead, Perez is focused on maximizing his own potential.
There were no grand claims before the season started that he would challenge Verstappen for the championship, and he has stopped experimenting with setups in order to chase a performance deficit. Instead, he is focused on building from a more controllable initial baseline at each race weekend.
The improvement has been evident, with Perez enjoying his most consistent start to a season since joining Red Bull in 2021, securing three second-place finishes in four races. The Mexican driver stated in Japan that he expects his future to be resolved within the next month, and it seems only a matter of time before he is confirmed as Verstappen’s teammate for 2025.
However, Ricciardo’s primary concern should be maintaining his position as an F1 driver. Both Ricciardo and Tsunoda entered the 2024 season under increased pressure, knowing that Liam Lawson is waiting in the wings to potentially take their place.
Lawson stepped in for Ricciardo during his absence from the Dutch to Qatar Grands Prix last season and achieved the team’s best result at that time. He finished ninth in a challenging 62-lap Singapore race after qualifying in Q3. Despite his frustration at not securing a full-time drive, rumors persist that Lawson has been guaranteed a permanent seat for the upcoming season.
Tsunoda’s impressive performance makes him indispensable to the team, but RB would be wise to allow Ricciardo to move on, considering the praise the 34-year-old has received from top management. RB CEO Peter Bayer has openly acknowledged the positive impact Ricciardo has had on the team’s operations during race weekends. While Tsunoda is developing into a potential team leader, there is no substitute for the experience that comes with being part of a championship-winning organization.
Although the Austrian team acknowledges Ricciardo’s contributions, his on-track performance has not consistently translated into lap times. The decline in Ricciardo’s performance can be traced back to 2021 when he joined McLaren. Despite a disappointing debut season with the British team, he managed to secure a victory in Monza, surpassing his teammate Norris.
The return to ground effect cars in 2022 was seen as an opportunity for Ricciardo to regain his form. However, the gap between him and his teammate widened, with Ricciardo being out-qualified 20 times compared to his teammate’s two. This significant drop in performance has raised doubts about whether Ricciardo’s driving style is compatible with the less agile and more cumbersome ground effect cars currently in use.
Ricciardo’s initial task will be to dispel that narrative and demonstrate that he is capable of performing well in the less high-pressure midfield environment at RB. Despite RB’s changes and closer technical connections with the parent group, the sister team’s main purpose remains to develop drivers for Red Bull. Ricciardo is not content with staying in the midfield; he wants to be back in a car that can win races. However, in order to prove himself deserving of such opportunities, he must show that he can compete with Tsunoda, who has shown improvement but not exceptional performance. It should be noted that Tsunoda is beatable, as rookie Lawson demonstrated. Ricciardo, an established eight-time race winner, was once considered a capable driver who could win titles.
With three drivers in the Red Bull stable performing well and both of its teams leading their respective championships, the Austrian team is in a favorable position. However, if they prioritize Ricciardo over Lawson for the lengthy 24-race calendar, they may come to regret it unless Ricciardo improves. Ricciardo has claimed that his crash with Alex Albon in Japan was an isolated incident, but it has increased the scrutiny on him and prevented him from gaining valuable experience in a race. Ricciardo has tried to alleviate the pressure by reminding everyone that there are still 20 rounds to go. However, deep down, he knows that F1 is a cutthroat business and Red Bull exemplifies that more than anyone else. As F1 returns to China, the place where Ricciardo had one of his greatest moments, he knows that he must start performing or his chance at F1 redemption may be diminished without the fairy tale ending.