The Australian has had a difficult begin to the 2024 marketing campaign as he has not discovered himself as assured with the dealing with of the VCARB 01 as team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
His struggles even prompted hypothesis that he could possibly be dropped earlier than the tip of the marketing campaign if issues didn’t enhance by the summer time break.
However off the again of a extra encouraging displaying in latest races, which coincided with a brand new chassis in China, RB has made it clear that it maintains complete religion in what Ricciardo is ready to produce.
And whereas there’s nonetheless some extra work to be performed to get Ricciardo extra comfy with how the automobile behaves, RB group principal Laurent Mekies has no doubts that the eight-time grand prix winner is the precise man to get the job performed.
Requested by Autosport if the group felt Ricciardo has precisely the identical potential because it noticed on his F1 return final 12 months, Mekies stated: “Yeah, completely.
“It is the DNA of our job to attempt to determine what automobile set-up is required for each the automobile and the drivers to carry out at their greatest, and that’s what we’re doing with each our drivers.
“Now we have seen a powerful progress from Yuki and we’re seeing a Daniel getting again on his trajectory.”
Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB 01
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Whereas Ricciardo has but to attain any factors to this point this 12 months, Mekies feels that unhealthy luck has had an even bigger position in that than an absence of means.
He says that progress has been clear to see because the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, however onerous outcomes have been disguised by unexpected incidents like his lap-one exit in Japan and being hit by Lance Stroll behind the protection automobile in China.
“Already in Saudi, we have been beginning to say that we have been seeing stuff that made us perceive easy methods to help him higher,” added Mekies. “So yeah, the trajectory is nice.
“Now we have not reached the end line there and we now have a number of issues mid-term coming to assist him really feel higher within the automobile and to ensure that our automobile fits his driving model the most effective.
“However actually it will likely be an excellent confidence enhance to see that there’s tangible progress like we noticed over [the China] weekend.”
Whereas Ricciardo has confronted criticism from exterior, Mekies has stated that internally, the group has seen nothing however dedication from him to get on high of the issues he has confronted.
“Not like what is maybe perceived from the surface, throughout all this tough begin to the season, he has been very centered, very calm, very rational about it,” he stated.
“We seemed on the limitations of the automobile, and what he wanted to go sooner. Among the steps you are able to do shortly, however first you’ll want to perceive it. Then upon getting understood, among the steps you may act shortly, and some others will take extra time.
“Now we have tried to tick as many bins as we might, however we actually do not cease right here.”
Watch: F1 2024 Miami Grand Prix Preview – All the things You Must Know
