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Otmar Szafnauer on Ricciardo’s Fall from Grace: ‘I Don’t Know What Happened to Him This Year’

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
January 9, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Otmar Szafnauer on Ricciardo’s Fall from Grace: ‘I Don’t Know What Happened to Him This Year’

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 22: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202409220491 // Usage for editorial use only //

Daniel Ricciardo’s rapid decline in form has left many in the Formula 1 paddock scratching their heads—including former Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer. Reflecting on the Australian driver’s struggles with RB this season, Szafnauer expressed disbelief over how one of F1’s most charismatic and talented drivers seemingly lost his edge.

Ricciardo, who made a mid-2023 comeback with AlphaTauri (now RB), was unceremoniously dropped after the Singapore Grand Prix in 2024 following a string of poor performances. For Szafnauer, the collapse of the once-great “Honey Badger” is a mystery.


Ricciardo’s Renault Glory Days: A Stark Contrast

Szafnauer recalled Ricciardo’s successful stint at Renault (now Alpine) as a benchmark for the Australian’s potential. When Szafnauer joined Alpine, the team was seeking a replacement for Fernando Alonso, who had moved to Aston Martin. Ricciardo’s previous form made him a natural reference point during the evaluation process.

“I remember that when I arrived at Alpine, we had a vacant seat, then we chose Gasly, and as main references we had Hulkenberg and Daniel,” Szafnauer said.

Ricciardo’s performances during his Renault tenure, where he outpaced Nico Hülkenberg and occasionally eclipsed Esteban Ocon, painted him as a driver with blistering speed and adaptability. Engineers at the team routinely praised his pace, making his current struggles all the more baffling.

“I was talking to any engineer and everyone praised Daniel for his speed—even towards Hulkenberg,” Szafnauer noted. “In the end, he turned out to be slightly faster than Nico. Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened to him this year.”


Adaptability in F1: Lessons from Colapinto

Szafnauer highlighted the challenges teams face when replacing an underperforming driver mid-season. He explained that any team must weigh not only a driver’s potential pace but also their ability to adapt quickly to a new car and team dynamics.

He used Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams, as a prime example of adaptability. The Argentine rookie surprised Szafnauer with his ability to deliver competitive performances almost immediately.

“What you do is think, as a first point, that someone else can go faster than him [Ricciardo], but above all also how long it would take to adapt,” Szafnauer explained. “I thought that whoever replaced Sargeant would need 4–5 races to adapt, and instead I was wrong. Colapinto adapted almost instantly.”

In contrast, Ricciardo’s inability to find pace and consistency in the RB setup this season left the team with little choice but to replace him.


A Career of Highs and Lows

Despite Ricciardo’s struggles in 2024, his career remains one of the most memorable of the past decade. From his thrilling victories at Red Bull to his ability to extract the most from midfield machinery at Renault, Ricciardo’s talent and charisma earned him a loyal following.

However, his recent performances—first at McLaren and now with RB—paint a picture of a driver who has lost the sharpness that once defined his racing. At 35 years old, Ricciardo now faces an uncertain future, with little chance of returning to the F1 grid.


Szafnauer’s Verdict: A Sport That Moves On Quickly

Szafnauer’s reflections underscore the unforgiving nature of Formula 1, where past glory offers little protection against present struggles. For Ricciardo, the sport has moved on, with younger talents like Colapinto proving their worth and adaptability in high-pressure situations.

“Formula 1 is a brutal sport with scope for second chances,” Szafnauer said. “But sometimes, patience runs out.”


Conclusion: Ricciardo’s Legacy Remains Intact

While Ricciardo’s F1 future looks bleak, his legacy as one of the sport’s most exciting drivers remains intact. Fans will remember his daring overtakes, infectious personality, and ability to light up the grid in his prime. As Szafnauer aptly pointed out, Ricciardo’s decline this year may remain a mystery, but his impact on Formula 1 is undeniable.

The “Honey Badger” may be out of the race, but his roar will echo in the paddock for years to come.

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