There was a degree in direction of the top of final yr when there was a real feeling that Daniel Ricciardo was lining as much as take Sergio Pérez’s Formula One seat at Red Bull for 2025.
Ricciardo made clear upon his mid-season return to the grid with AlphaTauri (now RB) that getting again within the Red Bull, the identical seat he vacated again in 2018, was his final goal. As Pérez struggled by way of the second half of the season, recommendations of that occuring solely grew.
But, Ricciardo did little or no to press his case within the early a part of 2024. He regularly trailing teammate Yuki Tsunoda and, moreover his run to P4 within the Miami dash qualifying and race, had not delivered a factors end forward of Canada and sat 14th within the driver standings. Meanwhile, Pérez carried out nicely sufficient to safe a contract extension by way of 2026, ending Ricciardo’s hopes of transferring up anytime within the close to future.
Off the again of Pérez’s affirmation, Ricciardo acknowledged he needed to “maintain myself most likely accountable for not doing something too spectacular” this season. “When you’re attempting to battle for a prime seat, that you must be performing some fairly superior issues,” he mentioned.
By the Canadian Grand Prix, Ricciardo’s robust begin to the season had modified his purpose from combating for a prime seat to combating for his present seat.
No one went additional in questioning Ricciardo’s future than Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 world champion who was a part of Sky Sports’ broadcast staff for his dwelling race in Montreal.
Jacques Villeneuve leveled harsh criticism at Daniel Ricciardo in Montreal. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
“Why is he nonetheless right here?” Villeneuve mentioned of Ricciardo, asking why he continued to battle together with his vehicles and declaring that “his picture has saved him in F1 greater than his precise outcomes.” A brutal takedown, one which shortly went viral given how uncommon it’s for a pundit to be so outspoken on an English-language F1 broadcast.
Villeneuve was harsh — maybe too harsh — however few would dispute the ingredient of reality in what he mentioned. Ricciardo has been clear all through this yr he is aware of he’s not been doing a ok job, and has lots extra efficiency to seek out.
Just 24 hours later, he discovered it. In tough, windy circumstances, Ricciardo not solely made it by way of to Q3 for simply the second time this season, however he caught his RB automobile fifth on the grid, inside two-tenths of pole place. Perfect timing, significantly off the again of Tsunoda’s affirmation at RB for 2025 solely 90 minutes earlier.
It meant Ricciardo entered the media pen after qualifying with a few of his outdated swagger and sparkle. He knew the questions that had been about to return, that Villeneuve’s identify would come up. Ricciardo hadn’t absolutely listened to what had been mentioned about him, he mentioned, solely that he “heard he’s been speaking s—.”
“But he at all times does,” Ricciardo continued. “I believe he’s hit his head just a few too many instances, I don’t know if he performs ice hockey or one thing. But yeah. Anyway. I gained’t give him the time of day.” Then got here a “however…” and a lean in near the microphones: “All these individuals can suck it! I need to say extra, however it’s alright. We’ll depart him behind.”
It was solely qualifying, in spite of everything. We’d seen this sort of flash from Ricciardo in Miami within the dash, just for it to vanish when it mattered within the grand prix classes. This was however a superbly timed clapback to Villeneuve’s criticism.
But to straight hyperlink the 2 would do Ricciardo a disservice. He revealed that after Monaco, he made a concerted effort to attempt to perceive why issues weren’t working, going past his on-track efficiency and information akin to braking factors or nook speeds. It required calling on not solely the staff’s administration and engineers, but in addition his inner-circle off the monitor, and asking them to be open books with their suggestions.
Ricciardo certified P5 and completed P8 over a wet weekend in Montreal. (Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
“It was like, OK, what are perhaps another issues which can be affecting my performances?” Ricciardo mentioned. “Am I coming right into a race weekend not feeling energized or not feeling this or that?
“I believe I simply had a bit bit of excellent self-therapy after Monaco, and simply sat again and had a have a look at perhaps the issues I’m doing improper away from the monitor. Or giving an excessive amount of of my time to individuals and by the point I get to race day or one thing, I’m a bit bit extra flat.
“Deep down, I do know what I can do, and it’s simply ensuring I’m on this spot to have the ability to do it extra typically.”
And ensuring that these flashes of tempo flip into one thing helpful when it issues on Sunday. Ricciardo’s Canadian Grand Prix was removed from simple, with a creeping automobile on the beginning line — which Ricciardo suspected was attributable to a clutch challenge — triggering a bounce begin and a five-second penalty. He managed to outlive the chaos and profit from some late incidents to seize 4 factors for P8, almost doubling his complete for the season. That alone within the high-pressure circumstances felt like a hit to Ricciardo.
“All in all, (I’m) comfortable,” he mentioned. “These races, it’s arduous to be excellent. I made errors, clearly we had been simply attempting to outlive at instances. So (I’m) simply comfortable we obtained there ultimately.”
Canada marked the primary points-scoring grand prix for Ricciardo. (Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
The larger takeaway for Ricciardo from the Montreal weekend was that it went nicely from the second he turned his first laps in FP1 proper to the race. For the primary time this season, each single session felt constructive.
“It’s good simply to be aggressive from Friday by way of to Sunday,” Ricciardo mentioned. “I’m comfortable. (I’ve) simply obtained to maintain it rolling.”
Ricciardo has time on his aspect in terms of proving to Red Bull what he can do and securing an extension with RB. If it desires to make a change, then reserve driver Liam Lawson is able to step up, because the younger Kiwi proved by way of his five-race stand-in when Ricciardo was injured final yr. But there’s no purpose for the staff to hurry into making that decision but.
Ricciardo will hope Montreal serves as a turning level in his season, a breakthrough after the sooner lifts to raised perceive the place he was going improper. Importantly, he additionally desires to make sure he retains the sensation he dropped at final weekend.
“That little power, that little little bit of a chip on my shoulder I introduced into the weekend, I’ve obtained to make it possible for stays there, and simply hold that stage of depth,” Ricciardo mentioned.
“Sometimes being a bit bit… I don’t know if I should be a bit offended or simply get my testosterone up. But I believe it helps me.”
(Lead photograph of Daniel Ricciardo: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
