Formula 1 News: Ricciardo Confident in RB Upgrades Despite Spanish GP Setback
Daniel Ricciardo, driver for the Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, has expressed his confidence in the team’s recent upgrades, despite a disappointing performance at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Anglo-Italian squad had brought an elaborate package of upgrades to Barcelona, including a new rear wing, updated sidepods and engine covers, and a re-profiled floor, hoping to maintain their position at the forefront of Formula 1’s midfield.
Unexpected Performance Drop
However, the team’s performance took an unexpected turn for the worse, with both Ricciardo and teammate Yuki Tsunoda eliminated in the first stage of qualifying. Starting from 17th and 18th on the grid respectively, the duo struggled to make an impact in the race, with Ricciardo finishing 15th, half a minute behind Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in 10th.
Confidence in the Upgrades
Despite the setback, Ricciardo believes that there is no need to revert to the previous setup just yet, as the team continues to investigate the cause of their sudden drop in performance. “I think that temptation probably only exists in maybe in 72 hours,” Ricciardo said. “If we’re still unsure or there’s no clear answer then maybe we say: ‘Okay, do we just for the time being go back?’ But right now I’m not there yet to resort to that.”
Ricciardo described the weekend as “really, really strange” and expressed his puzzlement at the team’s inability to optimize their package for the changing conditions at Barcelona. “I didn’t have a bad feeling in qualifying. In the debrief, Yuki and myself both felt we did good laps, we felt like the balance wasn’t bad,” he explained. “I think simply we lacked the load and we probably don’t really get everything out of the new package.”
Tsunoda’s Car Issues
Tsunoda, on the other hand, felt that there was a fundamental issue with his car during the race, which compromised his performance. “There was a clear issue in the beginning and for sure that was compromised a little bit, especially in the second stint,” he said. “We were able to solve it at least in steering, but I’m not sure it was fixed completely because I was feeling so weird inside the car.”
Analyzing the Data and Finding Solutions
With the second leg of the triple-header approaching this weekend in Austria, Ricciardo is focused on analyzing the data and finding solutions to their performance issues. “I’ve got plenty of notes and feedback from the race. The next 48-72 hours [we have] lots of things to look at,” he said.
As the Formula 1 calendar continues to unfold, Ricciardo’s confidence in the team’s upgrades will be put to the test. Will RB be able to bounce back from their Spanish GP disappointment and reclaim their spot in the midfield? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news, Formula 1 standings, and Formula 1 calendar updates.
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