The impressive performance of Ricciardo in the first practice session (P1) could be a positive indication for Red Bull’s affiliated teams as they start the F1 season. During the initial practice session before the Bahrain Grand Prix, Max Verstappen seemed far from satisfied. Despite finishing in sixth place in P1, the 26-year-old driver expressed his disappointment with the performance of his car, while Daniel Ricciardo recorded the fastest lap time.
Verstappen, who was expected to be one of the favorites for victory on Saturday, openly expressed his frustration through the microphone, stating: “everything is terrible… it’s as if we’re very far behind.”
In the same session, Ricciardo, representing the RB team, a subsidiary of Red Bull, narrowly beat McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.032 seconds, with Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri finishing in third place.
This promising performance by Ricciardo in P1 could indicate a good start to the season for Red Bull’s affiliated teams.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, finished the session in ninth place, while his teammate George Russell secured seventh place.
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, finally spoke out on Sky Sports after being cleared of misconduct allegations following an investigation.
Horner emphasized his focus on the upcoming Grand Prix and the approaching season, stating: “Our main focus now is on the Grand Prix and the upcoming season as we seek to defend our two titles.”
However, he chose not to provide further details on the investigation’s outcome, stating: “I’m glad the process is over, but I can’t comment on it.”
When asked about the team’s unity amid rumors of discord, Horner confidently stated: “Within the team, our unity has never been stronger.”
