Daniel Ricciardo is one of the most charming and likable personalities inside the F1 paddock. However, he is going through a difficult phase in his career. After a troublesome and downright confusing stint with McLaren which saw him being dragged to the sidelines in favor of a fellow Aussie, Oscar Piastri, his return to the Red Bull family was finally seen as a breath of fresh air for the Honey Badger.

Many were expecting to see him return to form after a year away from the sport. However, his performance in the 2024 season so far has been underwhelming. And his own comments reflect the mental state he finds himself in after being unable to match up to his teammate in 2024.

Ricciardo’s home Grand Prix in Australia was a big blow to his confidence after he was eliminated in the first part of qualifying. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, on the other hand, charged through to the top 10 shootouts and eventually finished P7 in the race, scoring valuable points for the team. Ricciardo was left puzzled as he admitted on Saturday that his lap in Q1 was the best lap he could do. However, despite facing these challenges, Ricciardo is trying his best to remain composed and is focusing on finding solutions to enhance his form.

Speaking to the media in Japan, he stated, as per Formu1a.uno, “That was certainly something I raised the possibility of [doing] if I’m still struggling.” Having not been able to perform at the level he is known for as an 8-time Grand Prix winner surely must be weighing in heavily on Ricciardo. “Before we just tell me I’m sh*t, let’s at least get that sorted and put everything to bed,“ the Aussie added.

However, the Racing Bulls will be hoping that Ricciardo can regain his top form before resorting to drastic measures like changing the chassis. They remain optimistic that smaller adjustments could potentially address the early challenges Ricciardo has faced in the season. Ricciardo has been adamant that his struggles at RB are not the same as McLaren where he had lost all confidence in the car.

Daniel Ricciardo doubles down on not being in the same situation as McLaren

Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Ricciardo acknowledged some difficulties with the car, particularly with downforce and rear grip. He mentioned struggles in high-speed corners during races in Melbourne and Saudi Arabia. Despite this, he believes the team is working on solutions, especially in adjusting the car’s setup to boost his confidence. Unlike his time at McLaren, Ricciardo feels he’s in a better position at RB, but he acknowledges the pressure to perform, mostly coming from himself.

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“It’s not a McLaren situation. So I think it’s just important now that I just keep working with my engineers, and we don’t start taking too many suggestions or advice from the outside,” the Aussie told Motorsport.com. He also emphasized his extensive preparation during the off-season and expressed confidence that results will improve once the team figures out the correct way to set up the VCARB 01 to his preferences. Can RB help Daniel Ricciardo find his lost pace in Japan? What are your thoughts on the matter?

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