RB Struggles Continue: Ricciardo Aims to Identify Weaknesses Ahead of Hungarian GP
Daniel Ricciardo expressed his concerns about Renault-Branded Racing’s (RB) recent struggles, particularly during the Silverstone weekend, as the team’s Formula 1 performance has been inconsistent. Despite securing points in Austria, the Australian driver believes they lost ground to their midfield competitors in the latest upgrade battle.
Speaking to the media, Ricciardo admitted, “> I feel like we struggled more than we should have – I know that this isn’t necessarily going to be a real competitive circuit for us, but I still felt relatively we struggled more, so [we’ll] try and get into it and figure out why that was.” (Formula 1 News)
The RB team’s mixed fortunes continued in the triple header of races, with the Spanish Grand Prix seeing them struggle after introducing a major update package. However, they managed to snatch some points in Austria, thanks to Ricciardo’s P9 finish. (Formula 1 Calendar)
Looking ahead to the Hungarian GP, Ricciardo acknowledged that Budapest’s unique circuit characteristics might suit RB better, but emphasized the need to identify and address their weaknesses. “A week ago obviously we had a good race, we were in the points, but I think, compared to some of our competitors in the midfield, we have lost out a little bit in the latest kind of upgrade battle,” he explained.
The 35-year-old driver added, “> So, yeah, I think Budapest [is a] completely different circuit, so let’s see, but it’s not enough for us just to be like, ‘Yeah, that track will suit us and we’ll be okay’. We’ve obviously got to rectify some weaknesses, and I’ll obviously look at my race and figure out where I lacked the pace.” (Formula 1 Qualifying)
Ricciardo’s self-reflection was evident as he analyzed his own performance, saying, “> But there were times we were missing about eight tenths a lap – I didn’t really feel like that was there. [I was] a little bit puzzled through moments of the race so, yeah, just one of those days.” (Formula 1 Standings)
As the Hungarian GP approaches, RB will aim to bounce back from their recent struggles and bridge the gap with their midfield rivals. With Ricciardo’s determination to identify and address their weaknesses, the team will be looking to make progress in the Formula 1 standings.
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