Formula 1 News: Ricciardo admits 2024 could be final year in F1

(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo admits that 2024 could be his last season in Formula 1.

In recent days, heightened by statements made by 1980 world champion Alan Jones, Red Bull’s top consultant Dr Helmut Marko as well as Liam Lawson, who is next in line for Ricciardo’s race seat, it became clear that the 34-year-old Australian may struggle on current form to keep his place at the junior team RB.

When asked about his contractual situation in Melbourne by local broadcaster Nine, Ricciardo admitted: “I’m definitely not looking beyond this year.”

Notably supported by the now-embattled Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, Ricciardo was drafted back into the energy drink company’s F1 family last year with a view to perhaps eventually finding his way back alongside Max Verstappen at the senior team.

But as he now struggles again, mirroring his uncompetitive form at McLaren in 2022 that led to his premature ousting, Ricciardo said on Thursday: “The way the last year or two have been for me, I just take it race week after race week.

“That’s professionally how I’m going about it now and living. I’m not really thinking about ‘Oh, if I get this result, then maybe it means that’.

“I’m just trying to approach every weekend kind of like I did ten years ago – with a little bit of a point to prove to myself more than anything. A little bit of a chip on my shoulder.

“And if it is my last year, then fricking make sure I make it a good one. Not in a reckless way, but I’ve got not that much to lose in terms of I nearly lost a seat 18 months ago permanently.”

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Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the eight-time race winner offered further insight into what the team discovered.

“We found some inconsistencies across the cars,” he admitted when asked by Speedcafe.

“Obviously, when it’s so tight, especially in our position, you need everything to try and be there.”

“It made it a very long and tough weekend,” Ricciardo confessed.

“So ahead of this weekend, I think everything’s been addressed.

“I’ve been speaking with the team a lot. I was back in the sim as well after Saudi and before heading home.

“So yeah, I feel like we’ve done everything we can to come here with our best shot, and I’m very, very happy that we’re probably 24 hours away from getting in the car.”

March 19, 2024

(GMM) Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo tried to put a swift end to speculation his days in Formula 1 are coming to an end.

Fellow Australian Alan Jones, the 1980 world champion, said this week that the sport has seen 34-year-old Ricciardo’s “best days”, and he now needs to prove himself once again in order to keep his seat for 2025.

When asked if he has something to prove, Ricciardo told a reporter for 10 News First as he picked up his luggage at the Melbourne airport: “Not at all. Seeya.”

Contemplating whether he’s really washed up – Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB prepares to drive in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The RB driver, whose flailing career was rescued by the Red Bull camp last year after his McLaren ousting, then turned on his heels and walked away.

Before that, Ricciardo defended his admittedly “slow start” to the 2024 season.

“It’s been a steady, I’d say slow start to the year,” he said. “But it’s only been two races. Hopefully the season starts now on the right foot in Melbourne.”

Elsewhere, he told the local Age newspaper that amid perceptions he is a smiley personality first and serious driver second, he had adopted a new approach since his 2023 comeback.

“I wanted to get that feeling back again, to bring out the old me,” said Ricciardo. “Racing and training are my priorities right now and all of the other stuff is secondary.”

Interestingly, as the local media and even his hopeful successor Liam Lawson put pressure on Ricciardo this week, RB team boss Laurent Mekies sounds happy with Ricciardo.

“In the first couple of days of running with him you can see the race-winning guy,” he told the Beyond The Grid podcast, “so I guess the Daniel we have now is the best Daniel we have seen.

“Of course, he has had a rough patch in the last few years but, ironically, it’s probably putting him now in the best mindset, in the best spirit, with the best energy,” Mekies added.

Mekies also says RB, formerly Alpha Tauri, needed an experienced driver like Ricciardo in the cockpit. Ricciardo’s teammate is Yuki Tsunoda, who is also hoping to impress Red Bull for a promotion to the senior team for 2025.

Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Visa Cash App RB talks with Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB on the pitwall during a red flag delay during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 23, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The 23-year-old, Honda-backed Japanese is also linked with a potential move to Aston Martin.

“What we are looking for from Yuki is that he does that next step,” Mekies said. “The top guys, they make steps.”