Daniel Ricciardo Suspects Persistent Car Issues Despite Chassis Change.
As Formula 1 heads to the Canadian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo of Visa Cash App RB remains concerned about his car’s reliability, despite a recent chassis replacement and ongoing efforts to resolve the issue. This season has been challenging for Ricciardo, who recently saw his hopes of returning to Red Bull Racing dashed when the team extended Sergio Perez’s contract.
Ricciardo has acknowledged his own mistakes on the track but remains unsure about the performance discrepancies compared to his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. He expressed his concerns about the chassis, stating:
“I still believe there is something. Honestly, whether I believe it or not, it’s clear that with this new one, I’ve had some great races and some not so great performances. So I make sure I’m looking at myself first, ensuring I’m giving 100% before questioning the car.”
Despite assurances from the team that the new chassis has no technical problems, Ricciardo’s frustrations suggest a deeper, elusive mechanical issue. In Formula 1, where every fraction of a second counts, the quest for the perfect setup is continuous. Ricciardo emphasized the complexity of this task:
“There’s already enough we’re trying to solve over a weekend with setup and other things. I make sure not to waste energy on paths that don’t yield results.”
### Ricciardo’s Tumultuous 2024 Season
Ricciardo’s 2024 season has been turbulent, marked by lower finishes and two DNFs. His performance contrasts starkly with his teammate Tsunoda, who has consistently scored points. While Tsunoda has managed to secure valuable points, Ricciardo’s best finish has been 12th, often placing outside the points.
Ricciardo started the season with a 13th place in Bahrain, followed by modest results in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Consecutive DNFs in Japan and China exacerbated his struggles, with a brief anomaly in Miami where he scored 5 points in the Sprint Race, before returning to finishes outside the top ten.
In contrast, Tsunoda has enjoyed better outcomes, consistently placing within the top ten and securing points, especially notable in Monaco and Miami.
Further analysis shows that while Tsunoda has adapted well to the RB1’s nuances, Ricciardo has faced recurring issues, possibly mechanical or strategic, hampering his competitive ability.
As the F1 circuit heads to Montreal, will this challenging track offer Ricciardo a chance to reset his season, or will it further highlight the underlying issues? The answers will be crucial for his season and the team’s future decisions.
