Daniel Ricciardo has openly acknowledged that if he continues to face defeat, he may not warrant a place in Formula 1.
The Australian driver is eager to revitalize his 2024 campaign, especially after encountering a string of challenging races at the start of the season.
Leading up to the Sprint Qualifying event in Shanghai, he found himself consistently trailing behind his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda in qualifying sessions throughout the year.
Moreover, Tsunoda has outperformed Ricciardo in three out of four races, with the only exception being in Bahrain when team directives favored Ricciardo’s position.
Ricciardo’s recent dip in performance has sparked discussions regarding his future in the sport, with some even suggesting that he might be replaced prior to the Miami Grand Prix.
However, Ricciardo himself has addressed these speculations, asserting, “Everybody in the team is shutting that down. The black and white is that I have a contract,” as he stated to the Press Association.
“However, I have to earn my spot. I don’t want these results to continue for a year, and for me to say: ‘Well I should be here because it is on paper’. I am not going to be happy with that.
“At the end of the day, if I am getting my arse whooped, I don’t deserve to be here.”
Ricciardo has demonstrated glimpses of his talent this season, yet he has struggled to translate it into race success.
In Bahrain, he showcased competitiveness, running neck and neck with Tsunoda during the race. However, a sluggish pit stop in Saudi Arabia relegated him to the rear of the field. Furthermore, an unfortunate spin on the penultimate lap added to his woes.
Issues with track limits hampered his qualifying performance in Australia, setting him back from the start of the race. This setback was compounded by a crash on the opening lap of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Fortunately, China has historically been a favorable circuit for Ricciardo. He secured victory in Shanghai in 2018 and used the track to kickstart his tenure with Renault the following year.
With the upcoming race in China, Ricciardo remains optimistic, recognizing that there is arguably more pressure on him now to deliver results.
“I want to get back to a place where I know I can be, and I feel confident I can get there,” he stated.
“I am aware I have to get the results. But from my side, I am not a rookie trying to prove something or to establish myself. I do have a history in this sport. I do have a track record that says I can win.
“But if we get to December and I have not been able to extract that then maybe I will be like, ‘Fine I am done with this’ or ‘I am not good enough’, but I certainly don’t feel like that in my heart.”
Daniel Ricciardo enjoys the backing of Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing. This support was extended to the Australian after McLaren opted to terminate the final year of his contract, following a challenging two-year period at Woking.
Consequently, Ricciardo assumed the role of the third driver at Red Bull Racing, a position he embraced while endeavoring to restore his battered confidence. Reflecting on his experience, Ricciardo believes he is not succumbing to similar doubts this time around.
Acknowledging his past struggles, Ricciardo confessed, “I went through this at McLaren and I bought into the noise because I ended up losing the belief. I would question myself: ‘Fuck, maybe I have lost that edge? Maybe I can’t do it anymore?’
“But now I sit here in a different place because I do feel rejuvenated. That is why it is frustrating because in my head it makes no sense. If I do well here and in Miami, all of a sudden it is forgotten about. I don’t get caught up in it, but deep down, I know I have to do better.”
Daniel Ricciardo has identified a return to Red Bull Racing as one of his primary objectives for returning to Formula 1. Christian Horner, the team principal, has not dismissed the possibility of Ricciardo reclaiming a race seat next year.
However, Horner also acknowledges that the 34-year-old driver needs to demonstrate improvement to be considered for the role.
