Despite finishing tenth in the Austrian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo was happy with his two hard-earned points.
After a frustrating point-less weekend in Spain, Red Bull’s fortunes seemed unchanged in Austria as both Daniel Ricciardo and teammate Yuki Tsunoda failed to score in the Sprint. However, Ricciardo’s P11 qualifying position for the Grand Prix set the stage for a hard-fought race, ultimately earning him a ninth-place finish, aided by a late-race crash between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Reflecting on his performance, Ricciardo described the race as “hard-fought” and admitted to being intensely focused. “I was pretty locked in – it took a lot of concentration and effort,” he said. The Australian emphasized the defensive nature of his race, acknowledging that while they managed to hold onto points, the car’s pace was lacking for most of the stint.
Ricciardo credited the team’s strategy, which utilized two hard tire stints to maintain position against the Alpines. Despite being outpaced by Haas, he appreciated the points earned as “damage limitation” and noted a general improvement over recent races.
Amid paddock rumors that his 2024 performance might jeopardize his seat at Red Bull, Ricciardo remained optimistic, satisfied with his recent performances in Canada, Spain, and Austria. “The last three races have definitely been better. We’ve got pretty much the most out of it,” he said. Ricciardo looks ahead to Silverstone with a positive mindset, aiming to continue his momentum and deliver solid results.
Ricciardo’s ninth-place finish in Austria, while modest, offered a glimmer of hope and resilience as he navigates a challenging season. The upcoming Silverstone race presents another opportunity for Ricciardo to showcase his skill and determination in the fiercely competitive F1 arena.
