Daniel Ricciardo gave a much-needed boost to RB in the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend, finishing in eighth place and earning four valuable points. Prior to Montreal, Ricciardo had failed to score on a Sunday throughout the season. His only success came in the Miami Sprint, where he secured fourth place. However, the Australian driver positioned himself well in qualifying by securing P5, RB’s best starting position of the season. Despite losing some positions during the race, it was crucial for him to end a three-race scoring drought.
In contrast to Ricciardo’s performance, Yuki Tsunoda struggled in the other RB car. After qualifying in eighth place and on track to score points, his race was ruined by a spin at the end of sector two. RB announced during the weekend that they had extended Tsunoda’s contract as he contributed 19 of RB’s 28 points, and his previous contract was set to expire at the end of the year.
Ricciardo’s future remains uncertain as his hopes of returning to Red Bull were dashed after Sergio Perez signed a new contract. During the race, Ricciardo faced challenges such as a five-second penalty and a poor start. Although he was not at fault for the penalty, he struggled in the opening corners as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton overtook him. Former Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde noticed something unusual in the onboard videos of both RB cars, as they started in first gear instead of second. This contributed to his poor start.
After facing criticism from Jacques Villeneuve, Ricciardo’s performance in the Canadian Grand Prix serves as a response to his critics. Christian Horner mentioned that the criticism only motivated the 34-year-old driver. However, Ricciardo must maintain consistency if he wants to make a significant impact. With only two points in nine races, he is currently behind Tsunoda’s five. Ricciardo also faces the threat of losing his seat to reserve driver Liam Lawson during the summer break. Using the Canadian Grand Prix as a springboard could potentially save his career.
According to Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle, Ricciardo’s decision to leave Red Bull in 2018 was an “emotional” and “failed” choice that altered the trajectory of his career.
