Daniel Ricciardo Sends Clear Message to Liam Lawson Supporters After Facing Harsh Miami GP Ultimatum

Daniel Ricciardo has impressed the F1 world after a brilliant P4 finish in the Miami GP Sprint Race. The Honey Badger was heavily criticized for getting out-qualified by teammate Yuki Tsunoda four consecutive times in 2024. The negativity reached a tipping point when fans and certain F1 experts wrote him off, demanding Liam Lawson replace him at VCARB. However, he has silenced all doubters by displaying glimpses of his vintage self.

After Ricciardo’s Japanese GP DNF, F1 pundit Richard Bradley declared that Lawson would replace him after the Miami GP. More such critical voices were heard in the media. But coming into Miami, VCARB found themselves in a pleasant place. With a new floor upgrade to their VCARB01, both Ricciardo and Tsunoda felt confident in the only practice session. However, things changed in Sprint Qualifying. While the Japanese driver couldn’t make it out of SQ2, his Aussie teammate beat Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, both Aston Martins, McLarens, and Mercedes’ to secure P4 on the grid.

Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 2, 2024 RB’s Daniel Ricciardo ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix REUTERS/Hamad I MohammedBuilding on his qualifying performance, Ricciardo aced the 19-lap Sprint race. He defended hard to keep Sainz’s SF24 behind and finished in P4—VCARB’s highest finish. “Let’s go, baby! Whoo!” the Honey Badger exclaimed on his post-race team radio. In the post-race F1TV interview, he said, “It felt awesome. Obviously, fighting towards the front feels so nice. To be honest, every lap I was able to hold Carlos off, I gave myself a pat on the back.”

“(There was) nothing left that I could give,” he added. “I knew that was what it would take. The team deserves a real… I can’t swear, but we’re going through a bit of stuff to get here. So it’s also nice to remind some people,” Ricciardo said cryptically, shutting down his critics.

It seems as if the tides of success are shifting in Ricciardo’s favor after VCARB changed his car’s chassis. Interestingly, he had predicted his turnaround two days before it materialized at the Sprint Race today.

Daniel Ricciardo’s 2-day-old prediction comes true after Miami GP Sprint Race success

Within two days, Ricciardo had become the subject of great appreciation. Despite being written off, the 34-year-old proved in Miami why he deserves a Red Bull drive. The kind words flowing for him are similar to what Carlos Sainz experienced after the Australian GP victory. The Aussie had even made a Sainz-related comparison ahead of this weekend that is surprisingly coming true.

“(Carlos) did great in Melbourne, coming back after the surgery, winning the race,” Ricciardo told ESPN. “Amazing win. He did frickin’ awesome. But it’s one win and suddenly people can be like ‘Oh he’s the highest-rated driver on the grid’ or whatever. Then, if Charles wipes the floor with him for a few races, those same people would be ‘oh, it was just a one-off, Carlos isn’t all that.’ You know what I mean? It’s like that.”

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He elaborated on the fickle nature of sporting success to highlight what might happen to him. “I know if I was going to have an awesome weekend or two, the narrative would suddenly be that Daniel’s back,” he added. “It can change so quickly.”

His performance trajectory did indeed change very quickly. Commentators and analysts are suddenly in favor of his comeback. The main test, however, awaits him at the main Qualifying session in some time. Can Ricciardo replicate his Sprint success around the Miami International Autodrome to make the weekend memorable?