Daniel Ricciardo, Australian driver for RB, expressed that he is not worried about his challenging start to the 2024 Formula 1 season. He believes that a strong performance in two races will overshadow his previous difficulties. So far, Ricciardo has been outperformed by his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who has accumulated all seven points for RB. Ricciardo was hoping to make a strong impression from the beginning of the season to secure his return to the Red Bull team, from which he left in 2018. However, he has been surprised by the difficulties in extracting speed from his VCARB 01 car. Despite a crash on the first lap in Suzuka, Ricciardo remains optimistic that his breakthrough moment is near. When asked if he feels more pressure than usual before the Japanese Grand Prix, Ricciardo acknowledged that there may be external pressure, but believes that the pressure he puts on himself is greater. He had a full preseason and successful winter training, so he was expecting to start the season strong. However, he recognizes that he does not need to make drastic changes and that success will come with time. He remains confident that he is just one weekend away from everything falling into place. Even in Melbourne, he found some positive aspects, despite not scoring points and facing difficulties in qualifying. He believes that with the right adjustments, he will be able to put it all together and achieve success.
Helmut Marko, a Red Bull advisor who helps determine the Formula 1 driver line-ups for the Austrian team, has expressed criticism of Ricciardo’s performances on some occasions. However, Ricciardo indicated that these comments from Marko did not affect him, as they both have the same understanding of the expectations placed on them. When asked if Marko was adding pressure behind the scenes, Ricciardo responded by saying, “No, but I am aware of his expectations and desires, which are aligned with mine. I understand that the season consists of 24 races and is quite long. If I have two successful races, any previous poor performances will be forgotten. However, each race that passes is another opportunity, so going three races without achieving a desired result is not what Marko or the team want. My two engineers, Pierre [Hamelin] and Patrick, have been working tirelessly, and it is crucial that we remain focused on ourselves and avoid distractions. Naturally, we all seek positive results, but they will not be achieved by receiving suggestions or advice from others. Therefore, we will continue on our current path, knowing that success will come. Unfortunately, it has not arrived yet, but I have full confidence that it will.”
