Daniel Ricciardo commits to proving his value in F1, facing challenges and potential replacement as the racing season unfolds.
Daniel Ricciardo continues to give his all to prove he belongs in Formula 1. The RB F1 driver appears threatened by the impending arrival of Liam Lawson, and he might find himself without a drive for 2025.
“From Japan or Miami, I wondered if I would be able to show up at the next race,” Ricciardo stated. “I didn’t hear it from the team, but it was clear there were rumors about it.”
“You hear that one week, then you have two good races, and Checo wasn’t doing as well, so I wondered if I would be promoted to Red Bull during the summer break.”
Ricciardo explains that he tries to maintain realistic expectations about his future: “The key is trying not to get too high, not to get too low. Ultimately, I focus on myself.”
“I think that’s probably what I’ve learned from the past, not to get overwhelmed by other things. Because they will always be there. They will always exist. But you have to control what is controllable, which is to give your best and make sure you love what you do.”
“The year has had its ups and downs, and even today, here, there is obviously a lot of pressure and speculation. I’m always happy to be here, I always look forward to getting in the car. I can’t wait to sweat profusely.”
The Australian reflects on his experiences during the summer break and the moment he knew he wouldn’t go to Red Bull. He acknowledges this conditions and complicates his future, yet he remains undeterred.
“Honestly, during the August break, they told me ‘no changes, continue for the second half, and treat the next handful of races the same way.’ That’s really it. And I also know, looking at next year, it could go one way or another.”
“That’s why I keep my head down and see what happens. And they made me aware of that. Things can be great, but they can also be different. I’ll see what happens.”
“I expected the season to be better.”
Ricciardo acknowledges he would have liked a better season, but he doesn’t want to take full blame for the situation: “If you had asked me in January how you thought your year would go, I would have said I expected it to be better than this.”
“But it’s not for lack of something, really. I really felt like I gave everything this year and, sometimes, the result isn’t what you wish or hope for, or it doesn’t always match the effort you’ve put in, but that’s sports.”
“You can always argue both ways. It’s like everything, you’ll have fans and people who see the good side of things, but you’ll also have others who see that I wasn’t consistent enough, or that I didn’t do this or that.”
“I will always look in the mirror and try to be as critical as possible of myself. I would have liked to be more consistent this year. But honestly, coming back into the sport after, say, the McLaren period, I was more in search of speed.”
“I wanted to prove to myself that I could still race at the front with these guys. And there have been moments like that. Obviously, I would like to be able to do it every weekend, but I do blame myself a bit.”
“I think it’s also challenging to compete in a midfield battle. Each circuit suits one or the other, and it’s hard to stand out when the fight is so tight.
“So, that’s where I think all drivers have had their moments this year, but it’s been tough for anyone to be consistently, at least in the midfield battle.”
“So, yes, it’s tricky, but it’s up to the team to judge whether I’ve made it difficult or not, at the end of the day, they’re the ones who will make the decision. I’ll do everything I can and won’t feel like I could have done more. I feel like I’ve applied myself. The rest is in their hands.”
- You may also like>Verstappen Fined by FIA for Foul Language
- Also make sure you follow us on social media>Facebook and>Twitter
Ricciardo to ‘Sweat’ in Battle for F1 Future Ricciardo to ‘Sweat’ in Battle for F1 Future
