2024 Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo was reportedly close to replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull only a month ago during the summer break due to the Mexican's poor form, but now looks set to be the odd driver out in the team's wider structure. The 35-year-old Australian returned to F1 in the middle of last season for RB but has struggled to find his best form on a consistent basis and is 14th in this season's driver standings, with 10 points less than daniel ricciardo max verstappen team-mate Yuki Tsunoda. Ricciardo said on Thursday that he expects a decision following Sunday's race in Singapore over whether his contract will be extended, but has had no indication that he could be axed immediately. There has been speculation in the paddock that Ricciardo, whose contract expires at the end of the year, will be replaced by Liam Lawson for the final six races of the season at Red Bull's junior team.

Ricciardo signed with Renault in 2019,  retaining his seat for the 2020 season and achieving multiple podiums. He then joined McLaren in 2021, achieving his only race win and podium for the team at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. He left McLaren at the end of the 2022 season and signed as a reserve driver for former team Red Bull in 2023.
The Honey Badger sits 10 points behind his team-mate, Yuki Tsunoda, collecting just 12 points across 16 races this season. “Obviously, I wish I could produce it every weekend, but I take a little bit of heat away from myself. It’s every track kind of suits one or the other, and it’s hard to shine when you’re in such a tight fight. “So I think I already lost probably two and a half good laps of the tyre, and that was maybe the difference.

Talent alone is rarely sufficient without the focus, perseverance, and rigorous efforts required to convert it into remarkable accomplishments. Discipline instills the necessary structure and focus, ensuring consistent progress, while dedication motivates individuals to persist through setbacks and challenges, continuously pushing their limits. Ricciardo's quote serves as a reminder that true success lies not just in innate abilities but in the relentless pursuit of improvement and the unwavering commitment to one's goals. "8  wins, 32 podiums, 1,329 points. These statistics and accolades are not the only measure of who you are and what you have achieved. Thank you, Daniel." "From the moment you arrived at Red Bull it was obvious you were so much more than just a driver," Horner wrote.
On 4 October 2014, it was announced that Ricciardo would partner Daniil Kvyat for the 2015 season, following the announcement of Vettel's departure from the team. Ricciardo confirmed third place in the drivers' championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix, despite it being his first retirement since the Malaysian Grand Prix. In the final race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite starting from the pit lane due to a front wing infringement, Ricciardo finished in fourth place and secured the first fastest lap of his Formula One career. For his 2014 performances, Ricciardo won the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year in April 2015. Throughout the 2014 season, Ricciardo harnessed a total of 238 points, three wins and five more podiums. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Ricciardo finished fifth and set the track record, despite spinning under the virtual safety car.

It was a parting gift of sorts to another old teammate Max Verstappen, who is fighting Norris for the championship. After a Q1 exit in qualifying, Ricciardo was up against it in the race and finished 18th after pitting three times in what is widely believed to be his last ever race. Lawson took part in five F1 races last year, with a best finish of ninth, as a replacement when Ricciardo broke his hand in a crash. “There’s ebbs and flows, there’s up and downs, there’s moments where you feel like there was an opportunity. That was the goal coming back into the sport after the little six months off, to try and fight my way back to the front of the grid and be in a top seat.
Instead, we must maintain our resolve and continue to push forward despite the obstacles we may face. Whether it be in our personal or professional lives, facing challenges head-on is the only way to overcome them and achieve our goals. Ricciardo's quote serves as a valuable reminder to stay committed and relentless in our pursuit of success. In this quote, Daniel Ricciardo highlights the importance of a positive mindset towards setbacks. He emphasizes that every setback, no matter how frustrating or disheartening it may seem, presents an opportunity for personal development and growth. Ricciardo implies that setbacks should not be viewed as failures but rather as stepping stones towards success.
This debate was ignited further by comments from 1980 F1 champion Alan Jones, suggesting Ricciardo might be past his best. Daniel Ricciardo is an excellent example of an athlete with a remarkable performance and a solid sportsman who leaves f1 waving. The handover during the helmet change that Lando had with Oscar Piastri represents the transfer of the generational baton from one group of Australian drivers to another. His positive speech over Piastri also emphasizes his willingness to foster young prospects in the sporting discipline. On Thursday, the last moments of one F1 weekend were shared by Ricciardo through social media, where he sent his last wishes for his last race. This seemingly was an act of passing the torch to the next generation of Australian drivers.

He retired in the main race during the safety car period in lap 26 after being collided in his rear-end by Lance Stroll as the two were entering the hairpin. In a post-race interview, Ricciardo criticised Stroll for not paying attention and taking responsibility for the collision. After the race, which  saw both RB cars retire, Ricciardo was given a three-place grid penalty for the Miami Grand Prix after stewards found he had overtaken the Haas of Nico Hülkenberg under the safety car. Ricciardo secured pole at the Mexican Grand Prix ahead of teammate Verstappen by a mere 0.027 seconds.
A crash during practice left him with a broken hand, and questions about his future in F1 arose. While he’s had a remarkable career full of highs, this moment highlighted the brutal physical and mental toll that F1 takes on drivers, leaving many wondering what the next chapter holds for Ricciardo. Ahead of the following campaign, Ricciardo announced that he will join McLaren at the end of 2020 meaning he contested just two seasons for Renault. Although his second year there was much better – Ricciardo finished fifth in the championship with two podiums – the move to Renault will perhaps be his lasting legacy as it actually regressed his career instead of kicking it on. Ricciardo finished the season with 92 points in eighth place in the championship, three points behind teammate Daniil Kvyat. He finished the opening race at the Australian Grand Prix in sixth, the RB11 seemingly uncompetitive as he finished a lap down.

He went away to his beloved LA for a holiday, and has seemed a different driver since F1 reconvened at the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August, the first of three races on consecutive weekends. It's these toils that explain the desire Ricciardo felt to go for that fastest lap at the end of the race on Sunday. In this insightful quote, professional racing driver Daniel Ricciardo highlights the true essence of the path to success. He emphasizes that achieving greatness is not a linear journey, but rather a road filled with bumps and obstacles. Ricciardo acknowledges the challenges and setbacks that one may encounter along the way, implying that embracing these difficulties is necessary to reach one's desired goals. He affirms that despite the hardships faced, the ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment derived from achieving success make every hurdle on the road worthwhile.