MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 03: Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo, who finished fourth in the sprint race qualifying, looks at the paddock after the sprint race before the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Miami at the Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2024, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
The Australian driver, who had been under significant pressure, achieved a much-needed impressive result. Ricciardo’s return to the Red Bull team through VCARB has not been particularly remarkable. In fact, many have argued that reserve driver Liam Lawson should take his place, as Dan’s performance has often been overshadowed by Yuki Tsunoda.
To address this, Ricciardo requested a new chassis, which VCARB provided somewhat skeptically. Whether the chassis was really the issue or if it was just a placebo effect, the old Ricciardo was back.
And he was well aware of it: “I know I have the skill, but did I expect to qualify on the second row? Probably not that well. I felt very confident in SQ2 and knew that lap would be good enough for SQ3. At that moment, I was in fifth place and in my mind, I was thinking ‘It would be really good to be fifth in SQ3’, and then we got fourth place.
“It was exciting. The laps were solid, but it’s hard to get around this track without mistakes. It’s a challenging circuit. I kissed the wall on two laps; I was definitely pushing. I’m extremely proud of what I achieved today, but credit also goes to the team for bringing updates in the last few races.
“I had a chassis swap in China and we had a new floor here, so it seems like things are improving. It’s wonderful to start near the front,” explained Ricciardo, in his first race in Miami. Last year, Nyck de Vries was behind the wheel.
In the team report on the Miami sprint race, Australian driver added: “It seems like things are improving and I am very proud of what the team and I achieved today. We had a strong session starting with SQ1, even though I made a mistake on the first lap, which put us under a bit of pressure.
“Let’s see what happens in the sprint race, but it’s much better to start at the front rows. This can definitely help us avoid problems during the early phase of the race. I would love to score some points,” added Ricciardo, with his characteristic smile returning.
Dan will start the race on the second row next to Sergio Perez’s Red Bull, who is in third place on the grid, while his teammate Max Verstappen, who secured pole position, will start in first place, and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari will start in second place.
In contrast, at sister team VCARB, there was an almost peculiar role reversal, with Yuki Tsunoda far from his teammate after consistently outperforming him this and last season. The Japanese driver had little to say: “SQ1 was good, so the car had potential, but in the end we couldn’t maximize its performance.
“We tried to push, but it didn’t work out. I also couldn’t put it all together. In hindsight, maybe two attempts would have worked better for us, but the pace the car showed gives me confidence for the rest of the weekend,” Tsunoda concluded.
Alan Permane, racing director of VCARB, summarized his team’s Friday in Miami as a highly successful session for them and their driver Daniel. The car had exceptional performance from the start of the morning practice, thanks to an upgraded floor that met expectations. This performance boost gave Daniel the confidence to push the car to the limit on the challenging track, surrounded by walls. As a result, he secured the fourth position on the starting grid for the sprint race.
However, there were some setbacks for Yuki in the second qualifying session (SQ2). Despite being happy and confident in the car throughout the day, something went wrong during his laps in SQ2. Yuki initially planned to do a single timed lap in SQ2, which seemed like the right decision based on his performance in the first qualifying session (SQ1). Unfortunately, things didn’t go as expected. The team will thoroughly analyze the situation to understand what went wrong. However, there are still more opportunities over the weekend to bring Yuki back to the front of the grid.
For Ricciardo, this qualifying session marks his best performance since last year’s Mexican Grand Prix, where he achieved a similar result with the AlphaTauri car (now VCARB). Starting from fourth position, he may be considered slightly out of place for his car’s potential. Today’s race will determine whether this result was a stroke of luck or a genuine reflection of his skills.
Regardless, it is evident that we witnessed the true Ricciardo today. However, it is important to remember that a good performance does not guarantee continuous success. Ricciardo will need to replicate his impressive performance in the sprint race qualifying throughout the weekend, just as the F1 reference driver, Max Verstappen, consistently does in all sessions.
© 2024
An exciting car race took place last weekend, leaving speed and adrenaline fans in ecstasy. The event, which took place at the famous Interlagos circuit, brought together the best drivers in the world in a fierce competition.
The race started with an impressive start, with cars accelerating in search of the lead. In the first few meters, there was an accident involving three drivers, causing a temporary interruption of the race. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured and the race could be restarted.
During the following laps, the drivers showed all their skill and courage in facing dangerous curves and risky overtakes. With each lap, the tension increased and the audience cheered for the competitors’ bold maneuvers.
In the end, it was the Brazilian driver, known for his skill on the tracks, who crossed the finish line in first place, to the delight of the local fans. With impeccable driving, he overcame all obstacles and achieved a well-deserved victory.
After the race, the drivers were interviewed and shared their experiences and emotions during the competition. They praised the organization of the event and the quality of the circuit, highlighting the importance of races like this for the development of the sport.
With the end of the race, fans are already eagerly awaiting the next edition, which promises to be even more exciting. Meanwhile, they celebrate the victory of the Brazilian driver and reminisce about the moments of pure adrenaline experienced during the event.
© 2024
