Team boss' big Ricciardo call amid 'difficult' return
Daniel Ricciardo’s team boss has emphatically backed the Aussie to rediscover his form after a tough start to the 2024 F1 season.
Ricciardo is yet to score a point through the first five races of the season and has been outperformed by RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
But team principal Laurent Mekies said the Aussie can “absolutely” return to form, and said there has been no pressure internally to keep his seat despite his early struggles.
Speaking to Autosport, Mekies praised the Aussie’s ability to keep focus despite back-to-back retirements from potential points scoring positions in the last two races.
RB team principal Laurent Mekies (left) has backed Daniel Ricciardo to return to top form.
He was involved in a lap one crash in Japan with Alex Albon, which was judged a racing incident, and was taken out under safety car last time out in China by the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.
Mekies said the team also had to do better in giving Ricciardo a car he could be confident in pushing to the limit.
“Unlike what is perhaps perceived from the outside, during all this difficult start to the season, he has been very focused, very calm, very rational about it,” he said.
“We looked at the limitations of the car, and what he needed to go faster.
“Some of the steps you can do quickly, but first you need to understand it. Then once you have understood, some of the steps you can act quickly, and some others will take more time.
“We have tried to tick as many boxes as we could, but we certainly don’t stop here.”
Mekies said Ricciardo could “absolutely” return to the form that saw him recalled to the squad midway through last season, and pointed to his showing in China before the Stroll collision as an example of the “tangible progress” he had been making.
Ricciardo waving to the crowd during the driver’s parade ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
He said Ricciardo’s upward trajectory began in Saudi Arabia, and hoped upgrades expected in coming races would push him up the order.
“Already in Saudi, we were starting to say that we were seeing stuff that made us understand how to support him better.
“…We have not reached the finish line there and we have a few things mid-term coming to help him feel better in the car and to make sure that our car suits his driving style the best.
“But certainly it will be a good confidence boost to see that there is tangible progress like we saw over (the China) weekend.”
Rumours had been circulating Ricciardo could be dumped by RB mid-season in favour of gun rookie Liam Lawson.
Lawson stunned the paddock while deputising for Ricciardo during his lay-off with a broken hand last season, and famously scored points in Singapore. He is considered one of the best young prospects to not have a full-time seat.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said given Ricciardo’s “difficulties” in the last two races, it was still too early to determine if or when he should be replaced.
“His season hasn’t really got going yet, he’s had some difficulties. I think by his own admittance he would feel that he’s underperformed so far this year, but we’re only at race five,” he told the official F1 website.
But he did admit the Aussie had some work to do to be in contention to make the leap back to the senior Red Bull team alongside Max Verstappen.
“I think that it’s pretty much in Daniel’s hands.
“He needs to show the kind of head-turning form to make not only ourselves, but potentially to make others, take notice.”
Horner suggested having Lawson on the sidelines would naturally put some pressure on the two RB incumbents, but said no decision had been made on if or when the Kiwi would get the call-up.
“Naturally (Lawson) is champing at the bit to get an opportunity, but there’s nothing preset or preordained as to when or even if (a swap) would take place.
“The priority is for sure for the drivers that are in the race seats at the moment and we’ll see how that pans out.”
The F1 season continues in Miami this weekend, with the race to begin 6am Monday (AEST).