Although Daniel Ricciardo may face difficulties on the race track, he has been widely acknowledged as an invaluable asset off it.
RB boss Laurent Mekies said Daniel Ricciardo’s input into the team has been a huge asset, even while he has struggled to get points on the board in 2024.
As this season nears its end, Yuki Tsunoda trails his Australian team-mate by a margin of 14 points. However, as Daniel Ricciardo’s contract approaches its conclusion, Mekies has provided insights into the additional ways Ricciardo has contributed to the team’s success.
Daniel Ricciardo ‘value’ to RB identified by Laurent Mekies
After initially collaborating in 2012, Mekies and Ricciardo took separate career paths as the Australian joined Red Bull while Mekies joined the FIA. However, their reunion has proven vital for the growth of the French team, as highlighted by the team principal.
“It’s a huge luck for this team to have a pairing [of] Yuki and Daniel,” he exclusively told PlanetF1.com.
Having someone like Daniel on the team who has won eight races, worked with multiple teams, and has a clear understanding of where the board should be and where it needs to go, greatly benefits the project’s context and helps in identifying any gaps.
“His contribution to the team has been immense. Despite the initial races being in an uncomfortable zone performance-wise, he continued to bring significant value to the team.”
“Yes, he initially experienced some of the car’s characteristics that made him lack confidence. This is not exclusive to Daniel, as it is something we encounter every year in the game.”
“Each year, we witness a driver who possesses a driving style that perfectly complements a specific car or is more attuned to its unique characteristics. Consequently, we have dedicated significant efforts in collaborating with him, his crew, and his development team to address this aspect diligently.”
More from our chat with Laurent Mekies
Exclusive: Why RB are ‘in no rush’ to decide Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda future
RB boss reveals Concorde Agreement wish to stop F1 two-division split
Despite the challenges faced by Ricciardo this year, Mekies emphasized that the driver has displayed remarkable composure and that there has been subtle but significant progress.
He stated that there has been significant progress, some of which has not been disclosed to you.
However, it should be noted that the race in Australia surpassed that of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Japan’s race proved to be superior to Australia’s. As we move further, it becomes evident that China’s race outshined Japan’s, while Miami’s race outperformed China’s.
“We believe that we are following a certain path, and in response to your inquiry, he has displayed a remarkable lack of emotion. He has approached the situation entirely logically, discussing with us the limitations and abilities of the car. He explains why certain actions cannot be performed in a particular corner and outlines the necessary actions to be taken in that same corner.”
“We have learned as much as he has from this experience, and we are implementing changes to the car both in the short and long term based on his requests. Our aim is to utilize this knowledge to help him perform at his absolute best.”
Read next: What the Monaco GP is like on the ground: Playing padel with Le Mans winners and meeting F1 drivers on yachts
