Daniel Ricciardo’s hundreds of thousands of followers would possibly need him to maintain making predictions.
A yr in the past on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix the Formulation 1 driver declared that his automotive had prime ten potential after the primary two apply classes. Ricciardo proved that over the following two days, qualifying fourth for the 2023 Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix after which ending seventh in the principle occasion. It was Ricciardo’s finest end result after his stunning mid-season return to the grid, and went a great distance in direction of him preserving that seat for the 2024 marketing campaign.
On Saturday at Crimson Bull Ring Ricciardo simply missed out on Q3, ending 0.015 seconds behind tenth-place finisher Esteban Ocon. That noticed Ricciardo’s qualifying session for the Austrian Grand Prix finish in Q2, however the Australian driver remained as optimistic as ever, providing one other slight prediction following qualifying.
“After all, it’s irritating to overlook out on Q3 by only a few milliseconds this afternoon, however on the similar time, it’s a extra optimistic one as I feel we made some progress since yesterday and it’s one thing we’ve to be happy with,” mentioned Ricciardo in Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce’s post-qualifying report Saturday. “I feel we nonetheless want to search out one thing a little bit bit further for tomorrow however right now’s qualifying put us in a significantly better place for the race. It’s going to be an extended one with pit stops and [tire] variations, so there’s no cause to consider we are able to’t be a prime ten automotive tomorrow.”
On Sunday, Ricciardo proved himself proper.
Ricciardo began his 250th-career F1 race in P11, however moved up into the highest ten, operating a clear race to safe P9 and add two huge factors to his account on the yr. The staff used an early pit cease, permitting Ricciardo to undercut a few of his opponents on the observe, significantly the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
Following the race, the motive force talked in regards to the “step ahead” on his aspect of the storage.
“It was a troublesome race and I feel we had been a bit extra on the [defense], so it took a whole lot of focus and energy,” mentioned Ricciardo within the staff’s post-race report. “I had begin on the skin and was trying good, however then I misplaced a few positions as there was no extra room and I needed to go extensive.
“As soon as we settled after the beginning of the race, I feel we did effectively; the staff did job with the technique to safe the place over the Alpines, after which I really feel like I drove defence in opposition to Fernando [Alonso] after which Pierre [Gasly] within the final stint. We made a pleasant step from Barcelona, and it’s been a greater weekend, so I’m joyful to carry residence some factors. Now we’ll attempt to make one other good step ahead for Silverstone after which perhaps that places us in one other struggle for factors.”
The end comes at a time the Australian driver badly wanted a end result like this end. The week of the Australian Grand Prix started with renewed questions on Ricciardo’s future within the sport. Between Dr. Helmut Marko outlining how Crimson Bull shareholders would possibly wish to see a youthful driver within the seat — cue the digicam pan to Liam Lawson — and famous F1 journalist Joe Saward speculating that Lawson could be within the seat earlier than summer season provides method to autumn, to say Ricciardo was beneath stress can be an understatement.
The VCARB driver famous that stress on Thursday, outlining how his “efficiency” and never his trademark smile can be the rationale he stored his seat on the grid.
Sunday, following one more prediction from him, Ricciardo delivered the form of efficiency he wanted.
He would possibly wish to make some extra predictions.
