Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian driver for RB, reflected on the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix and acknowledged that the team faced a harsh reality. Despite starting from the back of the grid, Ricciardo showed impressive speed during the weekend, especially in the Sprint race. However, issues with tire heating during qualifying resulted in an elimination in Q1 and a penalty, pushing him to the back of the grid. Ricciardo admitted that racing in traffic presented challenges, especially when other cars had less downforce. He emphasized the importance of qualifying and acknowledged that RB needs to improve to compete at the front of the grid.
Yuki Tsunoda’s performance in the Grand Prix also supported Ricciardo’s sentiments. The Japanese driver had no issues with tire heating during qualifying and secured a spot in Q3, starting 10th in the race. Tsunoda managed to finish in seventh place, earning valuable points for RB. With the addition of these points, RB now has a total of 19 points in the Constructors’ standings, solidifying their sixth position, 12 points ahead of Haas. Looking ahead to the next race in Imola, Ricciardo’s strong performance in the Sprint race could provide RB with an opportunity to compete against the top teams in Formula 1.
