Friday was not the best of days for Daniel Ricciardo because the 2024 Method 1 Austrian Grand Prix received underway.
However regardless of the early struggles, certainly one of F1’s major points of interest is staying upbeat.
Ricciardo posted the Sixteenth-fastest time within the single observe of the week, and couldn’t enhance on that place in Friday’s F1 Dash Qualifying session. The Visa Money App RB F1 Staff driver completed Sixteenth, resulting in his elimination in SQ1.
Maybe including to the frustration? The truth that Ricciardo missed out on a spot in SQ2 by lower than three-hundredths of a second, to teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
However in his post-session feedback, Ricciardo remained constructive.
“It’s a brief lap right here, so it’s all the time going to be difficult. We modified rather a lot from FP1, and we’re nonetheless making an attempt to be taught in regards to the package deal, however clearly, it’s irritating if you miss out by a small bit,” mentioned the motive force in VCARB’s post-session media report. “The second lap of the Dash-Quali was positively higher than the primary one, however we nonetheless have to finetune some issues. I do suppose we made the fitting adjustments, however perhaps we have to stability it higher. We’ll attempt to use the Dash to grasp the automobile all the time extra, so I’m staying optimistic.”
Ricciardo’s optimism comes as there may be elevated hypothesis about his place with the staff, not only for the 2025 season however maybe the remainder of this season. Purple Bull Senior Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko kicked that hypothesis off forward of the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this week, noting that there’s maybe some stress from shareholders to offer a youthful driver — Liam Lawson — a seat at VCARB.
That hypothesis kicked into overdrive when famous F1 journalist Joe Saward surmised on social media that Lawson may very well be in that seat as early as this summer time.
With the standard caveats that each rumor concerning driver motion in F1 must be given context and brought with a wholesome grain of salt or two, Ricciardo admitted throughout Thursday’s media day that he wants to enhance his efficiency.
“I mentioned I actually do take pleasure in being again within the [Red Bull] household,” mentioned Ricciardo to the assembled media on Thursday. “I weirdly do take pleasure in typically a bit of little bit of the pokes from Helmut as a result of I feel it additionally may very well be a technique to get me a bit of bit fired up and attempt to get one of the best out of me.”
Nonetheless, Ricciardo was clear about what he must do to safe his future.
“It’s the on-track stuff so I’ve clearly received a superb alternative, I say till the summer time break,” continued Ricciardo. “I don’t suppose that’s a deadline however clearly that’s what you take a look at for the primary half of the season. So I attempt to do what I can and clearly assist my trigger.”
Friday additionally noticed the second FIA Press Convention forward of the Austrian Grand Prix, with VCARB CEO Peter Bayer addressing Ricciardo’s efficiency so far, in addition to the rumors concerning Lawson.
“Nicely, [Ricciardo] actually has helped us tremendously. Trying again final 12 months when he joined the staff, he introduced a complete new power and spirit into the staff. And he has been extraordinarily useful in supporting Yuki. Yuki has simply said that very lately, really, that he nonetheless retains studying from Daniel,” started Bayer. “And it’s a part of our job, additionally as a mission from the shareholders, to develop drivers. And that’s what we at the moment do. However actually, as Christian mentioned, that is about efficiency.
“We do fortunately have a few choices with the junior [program], however we’re additionally not in a rush to take a choice for subsequent 12 months’s line-up. We’ve confirmed Yuki, which was crucial for us. And the main target at the moment, actually, as you may inform, is on the automobile and to enter the summer time break and have a quiet dialogue.”
Bayer — in addition to Purple Bull Staff Principal Christian Horner — was pressed on the motive force lineup by the sensible Luke Smith of The Athletic. For Horner, he outlined how any choices can be first addressed in-house, however did supply that like all the things in F1, the lineup at VCARB is “fluid.”
“I feel something concerning drivers goes to be handled in-house earlier than we discuss to the media about it. They’re all, as I say, Purple Bull racing drivers and each Purple Bull driver is aware of that there’s all the time a stress, that there’s all the time a scrutiny,” described Horner. “However, you recognize, Daniel is within the seat and it’s right down to him to profit from that. After which, it’s all the time, as we see in Method 1, issues are all the time fluid.”
As for Bayer, he echoed Horner’s ideas.
“Maybe simply so as to add on what Christian completely summarised, Liam is a part of the staff, he’s our check driver, he’s within the simulator,” added Bayer. “As most of you recognize, he’ll be within the [Testing of Previous Car session]. We do our job to develop younger drivers, however the choice on the second seat can be taken quietly and we’re not in a rush.”
VCARB and Purple Bull won’t be in a rush to solidify their lineup for 2025 — and decide on Ricciardo’s future — however the driver stays beneath mounting stress to enhance his kind.
