Daniel Ricciardo is still uncertain about his future plans in Formula 1 for the year 2025.
Daniel Ricciardo admits his current struggles to string together consistent strong performances is his “biggest frustration”, knowing he is “laughing” if he could amid intensifying Red Bull speculation.
Perhaps, Ricciardo’s struggles this season have put on hold the plan for him to challenge Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull, as he heads into the F1 2024 campaign racing with Red Bull’s junior team VCARB.
Daniel Ricciardo opens up on inconsistency frustration
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper and Thomas Maher
Losing out to VCARB team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in both the race and qualifying F1 2024 head-to-heads so far, Ricciardo is the driver whose position is not yet decided for F1 2025. But, while speculation initially revolved around Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson replacing Ricciardo, now Ricciardo to Red Bull talk has returned.
Ricciardo’s recent performances in the Miami Sprint, Canadian GP (finishing in P8), and Austrian GP (finishing in P9) showcased his strong abilities. These results have sparked speculation that he could potentially replace Perez, whose form has significantly declined since signing a new Red Bull deal.
According to sources, PlanetF1.com has learned that performance clauses are in place for both drivers, potentially enabling a driver swap. Red Bull’s senior advisor, Helmut Marko, has stated that a decision regarding Red Bull’s driver lineup will be made during the summer break.
However, Ricciardo’s recent performance at Silverstone, where he was overtaken by Tsunoda both in qualifying and during the race, emphasized the inconsistency that the experienced eight-time race winner acknowledges is hindering his progress.
“[It’s] my biggest frustration,” Ricciardo admitted to the Formula 1 website.
“I find it frustrating when I see my reflection in the mirror and realize that I am capable of doing something exceptionally well. I just wish I could ensure consistent performance in order to achieve success and feel confident about it. However, overall, I view this situation with a more positive outlook rather than a negative one.”
There may come a time when my performance isn’t as good, but I prefer having these occasional exceptional days. They serve as a reminder that I still possess the potential to achieve greatness. It’s now my responsibility to tap into that potential more frequently.
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After the Monaco Grand Prix, Ricciardo opened up about contemplating a shift in his approach, specifically increasing his sessions with performance coach Pyry Salmela.
Ricciardo commented on his recent improvement, stating that a few things have altered.
“After Monaco, I found myself feeling a bit puzzled. Although I was prepared and eager to compete, the desired results were not materializing. Grateful for the support of my team and those around me, I sought their guidance in identifying areas where I could make necessary adjustments.”
“Perhaps race weekends are acceptable, but what about the week preceding the race? Is there a possibility of enhancing your preparation and feeling more prepared for the race? If you believe you are ready, it is conceivable that you might not be giving your full effort.”
As an illustration, one change I made was taking the initiative to handle things independently after returning last year. I chose to conduct my own training as I believed I had accumulated sufficient experience and knowledge. This approach yielded some positive results for me.
However, I have recently begun working more extensively with Pyry on a full-time basis. Ever since I returned, he has always been by my side at the track, but now I am making better use of his expertise.
In the end, it boils down to maintaining an open-minded approach. Just because something worked well six months ago doesn’t guarantee its effectiveness now. Therefore, I am actively exploring various avenues to uncover small increments of improvement, be it a few percentage points here or there.
Ricciardo is fully aware that in Formula 1, “the stopwatch never deceives”.
“When asked if his F1 future will be determined by the stopwatch, Ricciardo confidently replied, ‘Yes, I believe so.’ This belief is what I constantly remind myself of, as I see no other factors influencing it.”
“Nowadays, the sport has become incredibly competitive. Although marketing and various other factors play a role in this sport/business, ultimately, the stopwatch remains the ultimate truth. It serves as my best means to sustain my involvement in this field for a longer duration.”
When speaking to media, including PlanetF1.com at Silverstone, Ricciardo was asked directly about the Perez swap speculation. Although he didn’t make any predictions, he hinted that unexpected events can take place by saying, “crazy things happen.”
He stated, “I refrain from making any predictions in this sport. I believe that as time progresses, this sport continues to evolve and become even more unpredictable.”
I understand that the sport is growing in popularity and following a similar trajectory as Hollywood. It now holds a higher profile and has a more dramatic narrative attached to it. Additionally, it has become increasingly unpredictable, much like the nature of Hollywood.
Do I possess any evidence that I will be elsewhere? No, I don’t. Unexpected events can occur, but I am not in a position to assert, speculate, or foresee that. Therefore, I will continue focusing on my own pursuits.
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