JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 08: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB prepares to drive in the garage during qualifying ahead of the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 8, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Ricciardo’s inexplicable fall from grace is well-documented. By opting to accept the financial offer, he left Red Bull to join Renault and since then, his career and performance have taken a drastic hit. This has been especially evident at McLaren, where he arrived with high expectations only to be overshadowed by Lando Norris.
According to most reports, McLaren made every effort to make Ricciardo feel comfortable in Woking, but ended up insulting him by paying to make room for another Australian driver, Oscar Piastri. The rest, as they say, is history. Piastri has made a name for himself in the F1 scene and remains one of the most promising young talents on the grid. In contrast, Ricciardo’s return to the Red Bull junior team, now known as VCARB, can be likened to the Prodigal Son story.
From the outset, Ricciardo made it clear that he wanted Sergio Perez’s seat alongside Max Verstappen. However, Red Bull’s design team, led by Adrian Newey, created the masterpiece RB20, which suits the experienced Mexican driver better. As a result, Perez’s strong performances in the early races have solidified his position.
Meanwhile, Ricciardo’s performances have been lackluster, even in the previous year. Replacing Perez seems highly unlikely and, in fact, unwise considering his current form. The Australian driver, who was once cheerful and smiled more often, may struggle to see out the year with VCARB.
In an interview with the Herald Sun, former Formula 1 world champion Alan Jones issued a warning to Ricciardo. He acknowledged that luck plays a role, but emphasized that blaming the car is not a viable excuse. Jones expressed his desire to see Ricciardo perform well, both in Melbourne and overall. However, he believes that Ricciardo’s luck needs to change or he must elevate his performance if he wants any chance of returning to the Red Bull team or driving a more competitive car.
Jones stated that Ricciardo is currently stagnant and needs to achieve good results and put on an impressive display. He cannot afford to remain at his current level. While Jones would love to see Ricciardo become highly competitive and consistently score points, he believes that certain changes need to occur before that can happen.
Jones also commented on Ricciardo’s current car, whether it be the Alpine or McLaren. He stressed that Ricciardo must start outperforming his teammate as a first step towards improvement. These words of advice come from the legendary 77-year-old racing driver.
It should be easy for most top drivers to outperform Tsunoda. The 23-year-old Japanese driver, who has been in Formula 1 for four seasons, is not exactly an impressive or consistent reference. Currently, he is driving for VCARB until the end of this season, but with Honda no longer involved, questions arise about his future in F1.
If Ricciardo struggles to outperform Tsunoda, it is worth noting that Tsunoda has already outperformed his teammate in the two races they have competed together this year. In his previous ten races in VCARB (formerly known as AlphaTauri), Tsunoda has a 7-3 advantage in qualifying and 6-4 in races.
For Ricciardo, who is eyeing a move to Red Bull, where his former teammate Verstappen is excelling, it is safe to assume that he would be overshadowed by the talented Dutch driver.
It is not surprising that doubts are starting to arise about Ricciardo’s abilities. Even F1 legend Alan Jones, an Australian compatriot, has lost faith in him.
The Australian Grand Prix, which is the third round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, will take place in Melbourne from March 22 to 24 at Albert Park.
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An exciting event took place last Saturday, when the two best football teams in the country faced each other at the main stadium. Fans were eager to see the match between the home team and the visiting team, which promised to be full of action and twists.
From the start of the game, it was clear that it would be a fierce competition. Both teams showed incredible skills and unwavering determination. The players ran tirelessly on the field, fighting for possession of the ball and trying to score goals.
The crowd was in ecstasy with every exciting play. Encouraging cheers and boos echoed through the stadium, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The fans were fully engaged in the game, fervently cheering for their favorite teams.
In the end, the home team managed to score the winning goal in the final minutes of the game. The crowd erupted in celebration, while the players celebrated on the field. It was an exciting victory for the home team and a disappointing defeat for the visiting team.
This match will certainly be remembered as one of the most exciting games of the season. The players showed their skill and passion for the sport, providing an unforgettable spectacle for the fans. Now, both teams are preparing for the next challenges, while the supporters eagerly await the next games full of emotion.
