A downbeat Daniel Ricciardo.
Despite Peter Bayer saying he’s happy with the RB driver line-up, Daniel Ricciardo admits he wants to be “doing better” as he continues to trail Yuki Tsunoda.
Tsunoda is leading every RB battle that counts as he is up 19 points to five in the Drivers’ standings, 7-1 in their qualifying head-to-head and 6-1 in the grands prix.
Daniel Ricciardo admits his deficit to Yuki Tsunoda is ‘frustrating’
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper
Contrary to the pre-season expectations that Ricciardo would dominate his teammate, the statistics have taken everyone by surprise as he has performed quite the opposite.
Despite rumors suggesting that Liam Lawson may replace him before the end of the season, the team, including Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, has denied any possibility of replacing him due to his ongoing struggles.
CEO Peter Bayer recently commented, stating, “At present, we have two drivers operating the cars, and we are pleased with their performance. As for the 2025 situation, it is not a topic of discussion for us.”
During the summer break, the discussion will shift towards the line-up for the upcoming year.
Ricciardo has six additional races to showcase his worth to his Red Bull and RB superiors, potentially earning him another season in Formula 1, possibly with Red Bull.
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“When informed that Bayer was satisfied with the RB line-up, he confessed to the media, including PlanetF1.com, that he hadn’t invested much thought into it.”
“It’s wonderful news, and absolutely, it would be incredible, but my ultimate goal is to consistently perform even better.”
“In comparing the gap to Tsunoda, we might discover certain factors that could potentially explain the reasons behind my occasional setbacks. It’s likely that there will always be some elements influencing performance as Formula 1 is an imperfect domain.”
Having these gaps is making me unhappy, and I believe that is what is frustrating me to some extent.
It is evident that the team has been exceptional and extremely supportive. They have full confidence in my abilities, although I have faced more challenges this year in consistently performing at my best on a weekly basis.
“My main priority lies in the present moment, rather than indulging in comfort or excessive excitement about what lies ahead.”
“I aspire to improve in all aspects of my life, whether it’s my own personal growth or upgrading my car. Simply put, I strive to be in a better position.”
According to RB boss Laurent Mekies, Ricciardo’s contribution to the team goes beyond his results and points, implying that he will not be solely evaluated based on them.
He stated that having someone like Daniel, who has won eight races, worked with multiple teams, and understands the board’s direction and gaps, is incredibly beneficial in the projects’ context.
“So, his contribution to the team has been immense. Despite the initial races’ uncomfortable performance, he continued to bring significant value to the team.”
He further commented, “Significant advancements have been made, a portion of which has not been readily visible to all of you.”
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