Daniel Ricciardo has now shared his ‘very open chat’ with Visa Cash App RB after the Monaco Grand Prix to understand how the Formula 1 team actually feels about him.
The 34-year-old has endured a largely disappointing season so far this term and his woes hit another low in Monte Carlo. But Ricciardo bounced back to produce his best weekend of the year at the Canadian GP. It emphasised the value of his talks with RB to recognise all issues.
Ricciardo registered his best qualifying and race result from the first nine Grand Prix of 2024 at the Canadian GP. He has often been second-best in the Visa Cash App RB garage to Yuki Tsunoda this year. Yet the Australian scored all four of his Faenza outfit’s points in Montreal.
Daniel Ricciardo and Visa Cash App RB held clear-the-air talks after the Monaco GP
RB saw Ricciardo backup his fifth place in qualifying by finishing the Canadian GP in P8. The Perth native had not finished any Grand Prix higher than P12 before visiting the Great White North. Tsunoda, on the other hand, has registered points in five of the last seven Grand Prix.
Tsunoda also finished the Monaco GP in P8, whilst Ricciardo settled for P12 as one of the six drivers lapped twice. Ricciardo – following another ‘frustrating’ qualifying session – failed to improve on his starting position in the Principality, so he sought to hold frank talks with RB.
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Enjoying an open and honest relationship with Visa Cash App RB let Ricciardo and the team reveal any irritations they felt following the Monaco GP. The eight-time Grand Prix winner is clear that he wants the Faenza outfit to be upfront with their feelings to earn better results.
“We’re pretty open with each other,” Ricciardo explained, via quotes by Speedcafe. “But I wanted to make sure that there was nothing that they saw that they needed to unload.
“I just basically wanted to know like, ‘What do you guys think is going wrong? Tell me if there’s something you see from me and I want to try and fix it. But I’ll also tell you guys what I feel and maybe why I do feel a little bit flat, or maybe the schedule’s a bit too much at the moment, or whatever’.
“We just had a very open chat and it was great because I also want to give them comfort to tell me straight. I’m nearly 35, I don’t need to have any more pats on the back. I’d rather people just be very direct with me. I felt like it was productive.”
Daniel Ricciardo must maintain his Canadian GP form amid doubts over his future
Tsunoda started his run in the top 10 at the Australian GP and matched his season-best P7 in the Miami GP. Yet the Florida event marked one of Ricciardo’s worst races as he failed to add to his five points from the Sprint after qualifying in P4 by finishing the Miami GP in only P15.
Ricciardo’s woes then continued with P13 in the Emilia Romagna GP before taking P12 in the Monaco GP. But clearing the air with RB before the Canadian GP clearly worked as Ricciardo produced his best weekend of the season so far and will hope to carry it into the Spanish GP.
RB will definitely want Ricciardo to maintain the form he delivered in Montreal amid doubts over his future. Joe Saward reports that now Red Bull have extended Sergio Perez’s contract and RB took up their option with Tsunoda, Liam Lawson could replace Ricciardo this season.
Red Bull have Ricciardo signed to a long-term contract but he is only on loan with Visa Cash App RB for 2024. Lawson is also pushing for a seat in Formula 1. So, unless Ricciardo enjoys strong results until the summer break, Saward believes Lawson could take over his RB seat.
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