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Daniel Ricciardo joked about his braking issues being highlighted by Peter Bayer as a reference to past quotes from his McLaren days being reiterated. Speaking to media including Sportskeeda, the RB driver asserted that no braking issues were hindering him from a good performance.
After the Japanese GP, RB CEO Bayer explained that their car had a limited working window and that Daniel Ricciardo had issues with braking. Understandably, it has always been clear that the Australian’s unique driving style has often had demands from the car design and setup, with Max Verstappen being one of the few teammates who had similar demands from a car. But the Dutchman has been able to suit his driving style to a car, unlike his former Red Bull teammate who has had difficulties, particularly in his McLaren days.
An attempt to make the driving style suit the car almost ended the 34-year-old’s career by the end of 2022. However, Daniel Ricciardo has chosen to lean on his strengths upon returning midway through last season. Consequently, it has taken him a little longer than expected to get comfortable with his car.
Asked by Sportskeeda about the braking issues Bayer mentioned, Daniel Ricciardo said:
“No we don't, we don't. I think they’re still reading quotes from my McLaren days. But braking has been fine. Obviously I am working on everything. Even when I got into the car in Budapest last year, it was quite obvious early that Yuki and I did have different styles of driving and a little bit of this was under braking. So we do have a bit of differences across us and for sure we try and meet halfway. I take some of his good things and he takes some of mine. So yeah braking is one thing I work on but it is no different to any other part of the corner. So have some of my struggles this year been with braking? No. Not specifically.”
Daniel Ricciardo feels confident about turning around his performance at the Chinese GP despite the sprint format
Given that there is only a single practice session available ahead of the Chinese GP, it is going to be tricky for many of the new drivers who are new to the circuit. However, since the track has been unused for the last five years, many of the old drivers would be relying on their experience and be a bit worried about the track surface.
Having previously experienced a single practice session in Suzuka, Daniel Ricciardo was able to match Yuki Tsunoda in the qualifying session then. The Australian driver also believes his past successes in China give him a positive feeling going into the weekend.
Asked if a single practice session could hinder his ability to improve from the progress made in Suzuka, Daniel Ricciardo said:
“I think look, I think it’s going to be a good thing coming back here. Look, I am coming into every weekend still very positive and confident that I can do it and yeah it hasn’t happened yet to the level I am expecting or wanting. But it kind of, it’s not really, I’m not coming into the weekend like ‘oh we’re on the back-foot’ or ‘can I do it or can I not?’. I definitely still have a lot of confidence that I can. So look we don't have a full practice kind of weekend. But it's not necessarily that I’m lacking a lot with the car, in terms of the feeling.”
He added:
“So I don’t feel I need a whole week of practice to get up to pace. And the fact that it's the same for everyone this weekend, I am totally kind of comfortable and confident. Obviously, Suzuka I missed the Friday, and then obviously for me I was on the back foot with just track time. The fact that it is the same for everyone this weekend. It’s good.”
Asked about his success in the past in China, Daniel Ricciardo said:
“Yes. I think even in 2016. I kind of look back at the years and I definitely had some good weekends here. Even in 2019 with Renault, I remember Melbourne Bahrain was, I had a struggle to that start of the season and we came here in China and it was that weekend that kick started everything for me. I felt like that from that weekend onwards, let's say my Renault campaign got better. So yeah it's good and I think it's a good time to come back here , you know cause I’m looking forward to that little bit of a kick start to the season. Of course you know like however the past gone there’s no guarantees or anything. But it is a place where I feel I can get things going.”
Having been successful in the past at the Shanghai circuit, Daniel Ricciardo remains optimistic about his chances at the Chinese GP. With its disappearance from the calendar since the pandemic, the Asian circuit has been a venue that has produced some of the best track action in the last decade.
Often known to produce a thriller and unpredictable race outcome, the track has also been one of the Perth-born driver's favored venues. In 2018, he won the race in a season when the Red Bull Racing car was the third fastest on the grid.
At Renault in 2019, the 34-year-old had a similar start to the season strewn with DNFs. It wasn't until China where he managed to kick-start his campaign that saw him almost end Nico Hulkenberg’s career.
Returning to the venue in 2024, Daniel Ricciardo is optimistic about turning around his early season performance woes and ending his dry spell for a points finish.
