Friday was not the simplest of days for Daniel Ricciardo because the 2024 Method 1 Austrian Grand Prix obtained underway.
However regardless of the early struggles, considered one of F1’s important points of interest is staying upbeat.
Ricciardo posted the Sixteenth-fastest time within the single apply of the week, and couldn’t enhance on that place in Friday’s F1 Dash Qualifying session. The Visa Money App RB F1 Staff driver completed Sixteenth, resulting in his elimination in SQ1.
Maybe including to the frustration? The truth that Ricciardo missed out on a spot in SQ2 by lower than three-hundredths of a second, to teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
However in his post-session feedback, Ricciardo remained optimistic.
“It’s a brief lap right here, so it’s all the time going to be difficult. We modified rather a lot from FP1, and we’re nonetheless attempting to be taught in regards to the bundle, however clearly, it’s irritating whenever you miss out by a small bit,” stated the driving force in VCARB’s post-session media report. “The second lap of the Dash-Quali was undoubtedly higher than the primary one, however we nonetheless have to finetune some issues. I do suppose we made the suitable modifications, however perhaps we have to steadiness it higher. We’ll attempt to use the Dash to grasp the automobile all the time extra, so I’m staying optimistic.”
Ricciardo’s optimism comes as there’s elevated hypothesis about his place with the workforce, not only for the 2025 season however maybe the remainder of this season. Crimson Bull Senior Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko kicked that hypothesis off forward of the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this week, noting that there’s maybe some stress from shareholders to present a youthful driver — Liam Lawson — a seat at VCARB.
That hypothesis kicked into overdrive when famous F1 journalist Joe Saward surmised on social media that Lawson might be in that seat as early as this summer time.
With the same old caveats that each rumor concerning driver motion in F1 must be given context and brought with a wholesome grain of salt or two, Ricciardo admitted throughout Thursday’s media day that he wants to enhance his efficiency.
“I stated I actually do take pleasure in being again within the [Red Bull] household,” stated Ricciardo to the assembled media on Thursday. “I weirdly do take pleasure in typically just a little little bit of the pokes from Helmut as a result of I believe it additionally might be a method to get me just a little bit fired up and attempt to get the most effective out of me.”
Nonetheless, Ricciardo was clear about what he must do to safe his future.
“It’s the on-track stuff so I’ve clearly obtained a superb alternative, I say till the summer time break,” continued Ricciardo. “I don’t suppose that’s a deadline however clearly that’s what you take a look at for the primary half of the season. So I attempt to do what I can and clearly assist my trigger.”
Friday additionally noticed the second FIA Press Convention forward of the Austrian Grand Prix, with VCARB CEO Peter Bayer addressing Ricciardo’s efficiency thus far, in addition to the rumors concerning Lawson.
“Properly, [Ricciardo] definitely has helped us tremendously. Trying again final 12 months when he joined the workforce, he introduced a complete new vitality and spirit into the workforce. And he has been extraordinarily useful in supporting Yuki. Yuki has simply said that very lately, really, that he nonetheless retains studying from Daniel,” started Bayer. “And it’s a part of our job, additionally as a mission from the shareholders, to develop drivers. And that’s what we at present do. However definitely, as Christian stated, that is about efficiency.
“We do fortunately have a few choices with the junior [program], however we’re additionally not in a rush to take a call for subsequent 12 months’s line-up. We’ve confirmed Yuki, which was crucial for us. And the main focus at present, actually, as you’ll be able to inform, is on the automobile and to enter the summer time break and have a quiet dialogue.”
Bayer — in addition to Crimson Bull Staff Principal Christian Horner — was pressed on the driving force lineup by the good Luke Smith of The Athletic. For Horner, he outlined how any choices will probably be first addressed in-house, however did supply that like every thing in F1, the lineup at VCARB is “fluid.”
“I believe something concerning drivers goes to be handled in-house earlier than we speak to the media about it. They’re all, as I say, Crimson Bull racing drivers and each Crimson Bull driver is aware of that there’s all the time a stress, that there’s all the time a scrutiny,” described Horner. “However, you understand, Daniel is within the seat and it’s right down to him to profit from that. After which, it’s all the time, as we see in Method 1, issues are all the time fluid.”
As for Bayer, he echoed Horner’s ideas.
“Maybe simply so as to add on what Christian completely summarised, Liam is a part of the workforce, he’s our check driver, he’s within the simulator,” added Bayer. “As most of you understand, he’ll be within the [Testing of Previous Car session]. We do our job to develop younger drivers, however the resolution on the second seat will probably be taken quietly and we’re not in a rush.”
VCARB and Crimson Bull may not be in a rush to solidify their lineup for 2025 — and decide on Ricciardo’s future — however the driver stays underneath mounting stress to enhance his kind.
