How Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo talks about his future plans shortly before the start of the season and why 2024 will be a crucial year for him
In the Formula 1 podcast “Beyond The Grid”, Daniel Ricciardo thought out loud and hinted that he could imagine a move back to Red Bull. And that Red Bull could then be his last stop as a regular Formula 1 driver
At the press conference at the 2024 Formula 1 winter tests in Bahrain, Ricciardo qualified his statement: “It’s about the big picture and all that. But here and now, at the start of a new season, I don’t have anything like that on my mind. You have to consider where I am right now and that I have a long year ahead of me.”
However, 2024 could be a stepping stone for him, says Ricciardo. Quote: “I think the way back to the top of the grid is to try to drive [the Racing Bulls VCARB 01] as well as possible and to get weekends like Mexico [2023], and above all to do it more consistently.”
At the aforementioned Mexico Grand Prix, Ricciardo achieved his personal best of the season with P4 in qualifying and P7 in the race – as well as AlphaTauri’s best result of the season. His big goal for 2024 is to build on this. “And then we’ll see what happens next,” says Ricciardo.
He emphasizes: “At the moment, however, I am fully focused on Racing Bulls. I want to re-establish myself. I think I already initiated that in 2023 when I returned to Formula 1 [in the middle of the season]. And there are a lot of races in 2024 where I can prove it to myself and the others around me.” Because Ricciardo wants to “really blossom again” in 2024
What Ricciardo wants to do for Racing Bulls
First of all, however, Racing Bulls needs to consolidate itself as a team that has undergone many changes over the winter break. For example, the name and the direction are new, team boss Laurent Mekies is new, many sponsors are new and the look of the racing car is also new. Ricciardo says that all of this now needs to be combined in a final product.
“It’s not just about one person being good, but about how you work with other people. Of course, there is a certain process. And I believe that we will get stronger and learn more as the season progresses. “
He sees himself as having a duty here: “The more I drive, the more feedback I can give and the more I can contribute. And I think the team really appreciated my feedback and my experience last year. I’ll just try to keep it up. “
Ricciardo admits: Motivation was partly gone
And with a little more enthusiasm than in the recent past. Ricciardo makes no secret of this. “I wouldn’t say I got complacent or lazy or anything, but deep down it probably felt more like a grind than it should have when you’re doing your dream job. The spark,” says Ricciardo candidly, “had gone out a bit.”
His comeback at AlphaTauri, however, has rekindled the fire in him. “I’m happy [again] to talk about developments on the phone and just be more present and engaged,” explains the Racing Bulls driver. “I also really wanted to get back into the gym after the little break to get back on track. It’s little things like that.”
Ricciardo recognizes “signs that I’m ready to go full throttle again”. He therefore attests to having “a lot of confidence” ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season and says: “I’m eager to achieve the results I know I can achieve.”