When Daniel Ricciardo rejoined the F1 grid mid-way through the season last year, the multiple grand prix winner would have clearly hoped that 2024 would be his year to make his claim to return to Red Bull’s senior team.
But after a full season of racing alongside the much younger Yuki Tsunoda, has the veteran really separated himself from his team mate to be the clear superior option to the endlessly struggling Sergio Perez?From the basis of the first 14 rounds of the championship, it’s difficult to make that case.
With so much experience and having been responsible for some of the most impressive and memorable grand prix wins of the last decade, it’s hard not to have expected more from Ricciardo than he has shown over the season to date.
His start of the season was especially challenging, suffering a rare late-race spin in Jeddah and failing to progress from Q1 in his home grand prix in Melbourne after falling foul of track limits on his final push lap. While he had a respectable performance in the race to finish 12th, he was several spots behind his team mate in the points.
Daniel Ricciardo
| Best | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| GP start | 9 (x2) | 18 (x2) |
| GP finish | 8 | 16 |
| Points | 12 | |
Monaco was also a difficult weekend for a driver who can boast being a Monte Carlo winner. Ricciardo qualified five places below Tsunoda, then lost a place off the start line during both grid starts, eventually finishing 12th while Tsunoda again picked up points.
After getting his wishes in China with a new chassis after suggesting there was likely something about his existing one that was leading to difficulties, Ricciardo had a solid run in Shanghai and Miami, only for that momentum to seemingly abandon him once again. He put in his best weekend’s work of the season so far in Canada, qualifying a very strong fifth on the grid and taking four points in eighth, but from that moment on there has not really been much to separate Ricciardo from his team mate. Something you would not expect from a driver with as illustrious a history as Ricciardo.
Although there is still time for Ricciardo to make his case to be in that Red Bull instead of Perez over the second half of the season, he needs to put daylight between him and Tsunoda over this final part of the year. But to do that, he’ll first have to make up the points deficit between him and Tsunoda.
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Formula 1
- Pace-setter Norris sure McLaren’s rivals are a real threat after another strong start
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- Exhausted Leclerc hit by food poisoning as well as grid penalty
- Start of final weekend at Mercedes feels “very surreal” for Hamilton
- McLaren make strong start to showdown as Norris and Piastri head times
David
7th August 2024, 18:14
Well the Aussies will get online at about midnight UK time so when I get out of bed tomorrow I fully expect to see a comment section full of criticism of this ranking and reasons why Daniel is much better than Yuki and should have been a shoo-in for the Red Bull seat.
Tristan
7th August 2024, 21:14
You reckon? I’d be surprised. We’ve got Piastri to get around now.
Ross
7th August 2024, 23:26
I think we’ll have 3 drivers in the grid next year.
Ross
7th August 2024, 23:26
Or we couldn’t care less about a website ranking and just let Dan do what he’s doing. Building momentum, start this ranking 6 races ago and it would’ve been a very different story. It takes time to get the best out of a driver and team, crucially it also take a team that willing to listen. McLaren are only just getting on top of issues with their car that Dan wasn’t happy with, and it has coincided with a dramatic upswing in performance. Maybe they could’ve saved $20mil by just listening to the driver…
Rob (@sundiesel)
8th August 2024, 6:49
Spot on
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
7th August 2024, 23:30
Not sure your prediction has – at least yet – come to fruition.
Personally I would not necessarily go as far as saying Danny is Red Bull’s best option to replace Perez, particularly if a change were to happen at the beginning of next season. However I remain of the opinion that they should have taken a punt with him for the remainder of the current season. He may have raised his game in the top seat, and was unlikely to perform worse than Perez, so if he was little or no better there would have been few – if any – downsides to that gamble.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th August 2024, 2:05
Yes, that would’ve been worth trying, just based on the fact they had nothing to lose, can’t do worse than “0” points.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th August 2024, 2:04
There’s no way australian people are gonna complain about ricciardo being ranked in 15th because it’s fair, not even the most hardcore ricciardo fans can say he had a great season, just decent.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
8th August 2024, 15:08
+ 1
Dave
8th August 2024, 5:39
He should move on, he’s made a ton of money, stop being greedy and let a young guy get a chance. Other series to race in. He’s probably past his prime, probably never gonna be the dude from 6 years ago. Running around for 12th ain’t it for a past multiple gp winner.
Edvaldo
7th August 2024, 18:28
Fair enough. The only reason people, including me, say Red Bull should promote him is because Perez has been beyond bad, not because Ricciardo has been any good.
It’s no different from his days at Mclaren, he had a few good ones back then too. Not nearly enough to deserve a top car on merit alone.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th August 2024, 2:09
Yes, he’s had a few more decent races than his days at mclaren, but still not enough to be considered good enough for red bull with this form, and by that I’m not saying perez is good enough for red bull: ricciardo could score 60% of the points a red bull driver might be expected to get, but perez could well go on to score only 40%.
Not going into the fact that with a competitive number 2 driver verstappen would score less points, just talking about what they could expect from a decent number 2.
Moi
7th August 2024, 19:37
Ricciardo, when confronted between a choice of a potential championship car with a super-competitive teammate and a big-money contract with a midfield outfit and an unthreatening number 2, chose the latter option.
In doing so, he effectively admitted to himself, subconsciously at the least, he is not WDC material. He has not been the same since.
A fair enough rating therefore, nothing in his performance screams ‘potential’ anymore. I’d even question if Stroll doesn’t deserve to be ahead of him.
Edvaldo
7th August 2024, 19:55
Putting it like that one can imagine that it was up to him to be a WDC in that team, in that situation, with that teammate.
He left because he was already being sidelined 3 full years before Red Bull would be competitive enough to have a sniff at a championship.
They always place their bets on just one driver and between him and Max, they would go with Max 100 times out of 100.
Staying there is what would be him admitting he’s not WDC material because it was crystal clear already that he wouldn’t be their guy for that.
José Lopes da Silva
7th August 2024, 20:27
Why?
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th August 2024, 2:12
Because he wouldn’t be able to beat verstappen, I don’t agree with insinuations that it’s just a red bull decision though, as in if ricciardo proved to be faster than verstappen he’d have become number 1 again, just unlikely cause verstappen seems head and shoulders above his competitors atm, like schumacher until alonso came along.
Edvaldo
8th August 2024, 2:45
He felt it when in Baku that crash was 100% Max’s fault and the team did not back his case.
He had to apologize as well. For what? For trying to make a clean overtake?
And his reliability throughout 2018 season was a disaster. Max on the other side of the garage had far fewer issues. Max was stronger than him by this point, but he felt sidelined.
He had good seasons at Renault and got a great deal with Mclaren, a pairing that did not work, but look at Mclaren now, they’re a top team again. It could have been Ricciardo there. Unfortunately, it was not to be.
MacLeod (@macleod)
8th August 2024, 7:58
@Edvaldo Baku was 50-50% even if he was trying to overtake clean his swerving was a cause of the accident as Max lost where he was and stuck on his projectaire way and had to brake for the corner.
Richardo should take a side and stayed there but he stayed straight behind Max (maybe he thought Max would go left or right but as he said Max didn’t know where Richardo was) and was too close losing downforce and couldn’t brake as hard……
Both drivers had to apologize to the boys in the garage !
Max was a bit fazed about Horner outburst (and if you know how Jos temper against Max is) and quoted that he didn’t want to enjoy that gain ever……
José Lopes da Silva
8th August 2024, 10:07
I always try to seek out the real reasons for Red Bull to boycott and sabotage every number 2 driver since the Spanish Grand Prix 2016. They’re always quite uninspiring. Baku 100% Max fault and Max had fewer issues in 2018 is like: ok, Red Bull sabotaged Ricciardo.
Of course I don’t think Red Bull sabotaged Ricciardo. My question is: why do you think Red Bull sabotaged Ricciardo? You already told me it happened. If you think it happened, why do you think it happened? What was Red Bull reasoning?
Edvaldo
8th August 2024, 13:22
@José Lopes da Silva
I never even once used the word “sabotage”, did i?
Ricciardo had an unacceptable reliability to his car after 2 wins early in the 2018 season for whatever reason and Max didn’t in a supposed identical equipment. I’m not making this up, it happened, go and take a look. And i’m saying it made him feel sidelined by the team. He already said everything that made him want to leave happened in 2018.
Don’t insert here a word i never used to try to validate your point as if i’m saying something absurd.
Edvaldo
8th August 2024, 13:41
@macleod
Yeah, but Max moved under braking to cover Ricciardo going in the inside line after he fully committed to it, like he had done many times before and was criticized for it, but different from those times the driver behind could not take avoiding action as there was no runoff area to go for, just a wall.
José Lopes da Silva
8th August 2024, 15:46
@Edvaldo I apologise.
I’ve found too many people complaining about teams secretly sabotaging their number 2 drivers, so I thought you were making the same case.
Frank
7th August 2024, 20:33
I am willing to believe he felt Verstappen was ultimately better than him., but I also believe he thought Red Bull was making the wrong engine call. In which case, he did not – in his mind – switch to an inferior car.
He gambled on a manufacturing team, with previous WDC and WCC experience, to find their feet. Ut’s just one of the many fateful decisions that are made by F1 drivers
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th August 2024, 2:13
Except renault had a history of making mediocre cars year after year after year, even back then.
MacLeod (@macleod)
8th August 2024, 8:01
As @esploratore1 said he went to Renault who have the engine he was expirenced with on how often they fail ….. Chasis wise Red Bull was much beter … So he went for the money there.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
7th August 2024, 23:17
Except that he was pretty competitive at Renault. I believe he was ranked 4th in this site’s season ratings for 2020, and I wouldn’t disagree with that. He demolished Ocon that season and got consistently strong results in a car that was well off the pace of the top teams. It was only at McLaren that his form collapsed and he hasn’t looked the same since.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th August 2024, 2:15
Yes, this is true, I’m seeing a lot of people say he was no longer competitive after red bull, but the renault stint disproves that, however now we can add this mediocre toro rosso stint to his terrible one with mclaren, so he really needs to show something more if he wants people to believe he’s still the ricciardo of old.
José Lopes da Silva
8th August 2024, 12:04
This assessment is true. He trashed Hulkenberg’s career too.
“a lot of people say he was no longer competitive after red bull” because of racing rule: you’re always as good as your last race.
MichaelN
7th August 2024, 19:43
Laying it on a bit here to assuage the fans, I guess.
Ricciardo has over 250 races to his name. It’s not like he’s suddenly going to change. He might have once been better, maybe even able to go up against the best, but those days are long, long gone. His juvenile antics also seem increasingly awkward. The guy is 35, not 16.
If Marko hadn’t mismanaged the once much respected, and very successful, Red Bull talent development scheme at least two of their four drivers would be out of a seat, and likely out of F1 – with Tsunoda only hanging on because he has the right passport. But now, this is all Red Bull has. And given the list of names leaving the team, it’s starting to seem like it’s only a matter of time before Verstappen is added to it. Quite a wild change after such a dominant 2023.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
7th August 2024, 22:05
I’m not sure.on either point – Riccardo has suddenly changed, he was ahead in one of the first 8 qualis and one of the first 8 races -Bahrain on team orders. So really, one quali and no GP in 8. His record since is 4/6 in his favour in both quali and the race. That’s as big a turnaround in form as I can ever remember in the sport. Likewise Hulkenberg, I don’t think anyone expected his return to be as impressive as it has been and he’s older than Daniel – proof that environment and expectations are as important as performance in the media narrative.
As for Marko’s failure, I can’t agree either. The plan is to find the Schumacher and back them to the hilt, it worked with Seb and it worked with Max – the intervening 16 months between them they had no chance of the title. Were Toro Rosso highly respected when letting go of Liuzzi after a handle of races or Algesauri or Bourdais? Did Vergne and Buemi need more time? Kyvat was poorly treated but that was 8 years ago now. I think the red bull driver programme has succeeded in what it set out to achieve and for all the failed drivers, they weren’t picked up and successful elsewhere in F1, Sainz aside. Even Sainz left on his terms, with little Marko could do. Once Verstappen leaves there will be plenty of suitors, Norris and Piastri is unsustainable, Leclerc may have to move if Max chooses Ferrari too.
Vikrant
8th August 2024, 7:16
Not successful elsewhere? How about Gasly, Albon
Vikrant
8th August 2024, 7:18
Redbhll is having 2 out of 4 drivers who should not be in those seats. So it clearly says that while they are able to find one great driver but their program has failed to provide another 3 decent drivers which the team needs. We are already seeing how redbhll is loosing the construction championship because of it.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
8th August 2024, 8:47
I don’t consider Gasly or Albon to be particularly successful. They’re both competent GP drivers but Gasly hasn’t pushed on from a strong 2020 and 2021. At the tail end of his time with AT, Yuki was pushing him hard and Ocon outscored him last season and is 10-4 up in quali this year. Max Verstappen he is not. Likewise Albon, beating Latifi and Sargeant does nothing for me and when there were front running drives at Red Bull, Mercedes potentially Aston available all elected to overlook him.
I don’t think Ricciardo deserves to lose his seat as you imply. He’s had the measure of Yuki in the past quarter of the season.
I think Perez should have been replaced long ago and they’re getting their comeuppance for that but given that over the past 2 seasons 8 of the 23 drivers have been part of the red bull programme I don’t think it’s a failure. Ultimately they have 4 seats, it’s impossible to get driver academies perfectly aligned to projects, and no other team has anywhere near as successful a model.
Jere (@jerejj)
7th August 2024, 20:43
As I expected & also a fair ranking based on average performance level.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
7th August 2024, 21:08
When I think of Ricciardo, I think of how narrow that window of opportunity is. The article on the number of race winners on the grid Keith did the other day highlights that for most it’s very fleeting. We think of James Hunt as 1976 World Champion, but by 1978 it’s all falling apart. The opportunity to win a championship is just a blink of an eye. Some like Prost in 93′ walk back into a competitive car, but for most it’s Keke Rosberg seizing a chance, doing the right things with the right team at the right time, and just making it work.
Daniel has 8 F1 wins and is unlikely to improve on it. A decade ago we’d all have predicted much more than that. He was perhaps right if he thought Red Bull were more interested in Max. But that decision to leave Red Bull is the apex of the story. I can’t help but think he thought he had more time than he did, and then moment was gone.
dan
7th August 2024, 21:42
@bernasaurus What comment this is will surely be in for COTD. Agree completley with what you wrote, Ric probably did think he had more time it is amazing how is performance vs Max even the defeats are far better than anything he did vs teammates once he left RedBull. He made Vettel run with his tail between his legs.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
7th August 2024, 21:50
Yeah I often think that about Alonso and Raikkonen. If you were told in the middle of 2005, where the maximum number of wins was around 85, that when Alonso and Kimi retired there would be 2 drivers retiring with 105 and 53 wins – absolutely everyone would have believed you. What they would not believe is that they would be achieved by neither and that their combined total matches a driver who in Alonso’s case started 7 years later and retired, at best, 2 years afterwards.
An Sionnach
7th August 2024, 23:29
A driver who is less talented is only going to win the championship if they’re in the right car. That car won’t be one that also has a Max or Schumacher driving it. Even Prost left McLaren when the team unwisely sidelined him. Like Ricciardo and others, his future was decided by his ability. The difference is that Prost was exceptional and consistently proved this throughout his career. When Ricciardo left, who was he to know what the limit of his talent was? I’m sure he believed he was better. His decision to leave was one of those things he’d have regretted if he didn’t do it. Now he’s older, can he show consistency and continue to improve? He doesn’t have to win a championship and may never do so unless it’s in the same fashion as Hill and Villeneuve. If he can remain in F1 for a few more seasons, improve and put in some memorable performances, that would bookend his career nicely. I think he can do this, but there are definitely no guarantees.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
8th August 2024, 15:15
A very sensible and well worded comment. In other circumstances Daniel may have become a real WDC challenger but he left Red Bull and his window of opportunity started to close.
David BR (@david-br)
7th August 2024, 21:29
Red Bull seem to have a star driver and a black hole that remorselessly sucks all the confidence out of their other drivers.
I think they should have bumped Ricciardo up to the A team mid last year when he seemed to be eager to compete against Max again. Could it have been any worse than another year of Pérez, could it? And may have been quite a bit better. Instead the second car ‘vacancy’ is like one endless tease, only for the money to speak loudest each time,, and their other drivers told, implicitly, ‘sorry, not good enough.’ Why do Horner and co. bother pretending otherwise?
MichaelN
7th August 2024, 22:00
It’s a failure of leadership to be sure. How hard can it be to manage two – just two – drivers?
It seems clear that Pérez is being kept on for reasons other than his performance. Could be financial, could be political – we don’t know. The contrast with their earlier eagerness to dump drivers is quite telling.
anon
8th August 2024, 14:32
It’s not just the drivers themselves though – it’s also a case of managing the people who surround said drivers as well.
We’ve had figures like Marko indicating that the bigger problems with a Sainz-Verstappen pairing were the clashes between their parents, especially Jos and Carlos Sr, who would then aggressively lobby different factions within the team.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
7th August 2024, 22:12
15th is probably fair given he should have been very close to the back after the opening 8 rounds. His form has improved of late though and his high points are still better than anything Tsunoda can manage. The Miami sprint and Canada quali prove he’s still worth his place on the grid and with his 2022 ranking of 19th, 2023 of 17th, there is improvement there. It’ll be an exciting battle for the rest of the season, this is the first time in a long time that Tsunoda has a real rival.
That said, I can still see Hadjar (not honey badger) in the seat next year so it’s fairly make or break for Checo’s seat.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
8th August 2024, 15:26
I think Daniel’s ranking seems quite fair at 15th. There are some interesting comments on this by other people so I am not going to repeat their views.
I think Red Bull may as well have given Daniel a try at the lead team for the remainder of this year. I cannot see that he would have been any worse than Perez. Although, admittedly he might not have been a huge improvement. Just a little. I think him keeping his seat at VCarb for 2025 is on a knife edge. I think he needs a pretty strong remainder of the season and then he will be OK.