Daniel Ricciardo’s Resurgence in 2024 F1 Season a Testament to Hard Work and Determination
July 2024, F1TV – Daniel Ricciardo has expressed his satisfaction with the significant turnaround in his 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship campaign, following a strong finish before the summer break. The Australian driver’s impressive performance in the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, where he secured his first points of the season, marked a crucial turning point. Although he faced another rough patch, Ricciardo’s consistency and pace have improved dramatically since the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, earning him points in Montreal, Austria, and Spa.
Speaking to F1TV, Ricciardo reflected on his season so far and the upward trajectory he’s currently on:
“I would have loved the whole first half [of the season] to have been strong – it wasn’t the case. I obviously had my struggles in the first kind of half of [this] half, and it was clear I needed to pick it up and find something. [When] I look back, since Montreal, the pressure probably started to build, [but] – other than Silverstone, which was a bit of an outlier – I feel like the races have been much more in line with what I’m capable of, and I feel like I’m leaving the weekend feeling much more content, fulfilled.”
Ricciardo’s improvement is a significant boost for Visa Cash App RB, with whom he is set to stay for the rest of the 2024 season. Despite initial rumors suggesting he might replace Sergio Pérez and return to Oracle Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner has confirmed that there will be no change in the near future.
The Australian driver’s continued presence at RB raises questions about the team’s future aims within Formula 1. Established as a junior team, RB’s primary objective was to develop young drivers from the Red Bull junior program. However, with Ricciardo and teammate Yuki Tsunoda at the helm, it appears that the team’s vision may have shifted.
Ricciardo believes that RB is no longer just a junior team and is now striving to move away from its original purpose. “Yeah, it does feel different, you know, and I think it’s easy to kind of rebrand it and say we’ve got a new look and with this and that, but your actions have to follow,” he explained during the driver press conference ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The significant changes at RB, including the arrival of experienced personnel such as Laurent Mekies, Peter Bayer, and Alan Permane, signal a new direction for the team. As Ricciardo noted, “They’ve all spent time in other teams, organisations. And yeah, it’s just a new way of looking at things. And I think that in itself and their intentions and the way they go about it has made people kind of stand up and say, alright, this isn’t a junior team anymore.”
While Ricciardo’s focus remains on the upcoming races, his resurgence in the 2024 F1 season serves as a testament to his hard work and determination. As the paddock looks ahead to the second half of the season, Ricciardo’s performance will be closely watched, especially with the FIA WEC 2024 season and WEC calendar 2023 already generating significant buzz in the world of car racing news.
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