Daniel Ricciardo is contemplating a strategic pivot that could reignite his performance on the track: swapping his current chassis. At 34, the Australian driver harbors ambitions of dazzling in the RB seat this season, eyeing a potential comeback with Red Bull Racing. Despite his aspirations, Yuki Tsunoda has emerged as the undisputed frontrunner within the team.
During a candid session at Suzuka, Ricciardo shared, “I’m trying to understand what can come from me, what can come from the car, what maybe the car doesn’t give me, what I’m looking for, things like that.” This reflection comes amidst a phase that he’s keen to differentiate from his challenging tenure at McLaren—a period marked by a stark dip in confidence and an early exit, which Ricciardo himself concedes.
“It’s not a McLaren situation,” he clarifies, adding a layer of personal insight. “Personally, confidence, happiness, all that really remains unchanged. It’s just about getting a result. If I have two good races now, the bad ones are suddenly forgotten. But inside, I feel really good and that’s why it’s a bit strange that the results haven’t arrived yet.”
The quandary has led Ricciardo to speculate about a fundamental defect within his Faenza-crafted chassis. “We’ve had a conversation about replacing the chassis,” Ricciardo reveals. “Of course I’ve thought about it. You just want to make sure. You know, I’ve been in Formula 1 for a long time and I can detect even small deviations. So I’ve mentioned the issue.”
GMM
