“It looks like my season's taken a pretty big turnaround”: Daniel Ricciardo feels rejuvenated after RB’s equipment change in his car

Daniel Ricciardo believes changes to the floor and chassis helped him turnaround his performance in the last two race weekends. Speaking to media including Sportskeeda in Imola, the RB driver suggested that the car is starting to evolve in his direction.

RB had provided Daniel Ricciardo with a new chassis in China, where there was a significant turn around in performance but he retired from the race. In Miami, both the RB drivers were given a new floor. The Australian’s car is speculated to have a floor tailored to his unique driving style, which demands more downforce at the front. Laurent Mekies had mentioned in Miami that the car development has been tailored to suit the former Red Bull Racing driver’s unique driving style, which demands more downforce at the front end.

Elaborating on his bosses comments, Daniel Ricciardo explained that in 2023, the setups were different and both RB drivers experimented with car setups. At the start of the 2024 season, he had complained of discomfort with the car and he reckons he is much more comfortable with it now. The 34 year old believes he is on the same page with Yuki Tsunoda in terms of development. He felt a significant part of his turn around in performance was due to the new chassis.

Asked to elaborate about Mekies comments on car development going in his direction, Daniel Ricciardo said:

“I think last year, I would say when I joined the team and got myself into a few races, set up directions, started to diverge a bit. That means going away? Yeah. I think that I certainly was happy with the direction that I was looking for or taking the car. And then, honestly, ultimately, Yuki started to explore a little bit that as well. And I think we both ended up liking that. And now we're both pretty much in a similar place with what we want from the car and where we like it in terms of set-up. So obviously after the first few races, yeah, I understand that there was a few things that we were trying to get on top of. We being, let's say, me and my side of the garage. But it wasn't necessarily doing a whole lot.”

“I was still happy with the car and that it was just obviously the lap time was a little bit of the question mark, ultimately. So obviously we changed the chassis in China and I think some might say that it did nothing, but for me, I do feel like, at least my feeling, but also on paper, it looks like my season's taken a pretty big turnaround. So, you know, for now, that was something that was, I think, definitely positive. And we're just trying to get a bit more out of the car. But there's nothing really specific where I'm saying, ‘guys, we really need this’."

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Daniel Ricciardo hails floor upgrade and Laurent Mekies joining RB in 2024

Daniel Ricciardo believes the new floor upgrade in Miami made a significant difference to RB’s performance in Miami. The result in the race and sprint was the team’s biggest points haul since the commencement of the 2024 season. He felt Laurent Mekies joining the team has been significantly beneficial to the team. The Frenchman had worked with the Aussie, when he was a rookie at Toro Rosso in 2013. He feels his own experience adds into the team’s input to build the car and Tsunoda has also had similar demands from the car as him.

Explaining the trajectory of the team and its performances, Daniel Ricciardo said:

“I think both Yuki and myself are asking for similar things. With a bit more of my experience, I guess maybe there's a few more things I can lean in on and ask from the team. But a long-winded answer. Honestly, nothing in particular. We're just trying to find lap time. And the team's done a good job. Miami was a good little update to the floor and gave us a bit more what we needed for maybe the first sector in Miami. Yeah, it's clear the direction we need to go, to catch the top teams, and I think the team's doing a good job of trying to give us all we can. And Laurent's been great in the team, so happy having him on board.”

Scoring five points in the Miami GP sprint, Daniel Ricciardo drove a stellar race to finish fourth. However, in the main race his performance trailed off as a result of a bad qualifying and penalty that put him on the back foot from the beginning. Nevertheless, the eight time grand prix winner is in a race against time to prove a point and secure his future for 2025 and beyond. Currently his teammate Tsunoda has scored 14 out of the 19 points and has had more consistent weekends. As Liam Lawson waits in the wings, it will be critical for the Perth born driver to capitalise on the European double header in Imola and Monaco.