The beginning of 2024 has been sluggish for Ricciardo, as he has been outperformed on the track by his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda in three out of four races. The only exception was the Bahrain Grand Prix, where team orders helped Ricciardo secure the lead in the final stages. Ricciardo was expected to outshine Tsunoda this season, especially after a few races together last year, but he’s struggled to keep up, facing increasing pressure.
Despite this, Red Bull Racing boss Horner remains supportive of Ricciardo, even offering him a third driver deal after his departure from McLaren. Horner played a key role in bringing Ricciardo back into a race seat last season, replacing Nyck de Vries. Despite starting from the back of the grid in Australia due to a qualifying mishap, Ricciardo remains hopeful, especially after a pep talk from Horner.
Tsunoda, on the other hand, has been performing well, qualifying in the top 10 and securing a season-high seventh place in the Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Ricciardo has faced setbacks, such as a collision with Alex Albon in Suzuka.
Horner believes Ricciardo just needs one good result to turn his season around and regain his confidence. Ricciardo, being experienced in the sport, understands the dynamics and remains optimistic. Currently, Ricciardo has yet to score a point in 2024, while Tsunoda has contributed all seven points to Red Bull’s constructors’ championship tally. The upcoming Chinese Grand Prix presents an opportunity for Ricciardo to bounce back, especially considering his previous victory in 2018.
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