Daniel Ricciardo, facing mounting criticism, is keen to keep the ‘chip on my shoulder’ after scoring points in the Canadian Grand Prix.
Ricciardo has been under fire for his performance this season, especially when compared to his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, was among the latest to question why Ricciardo still has a spot on the grid. Returning to the Red Bull team midway through the 2023 season, Ricciardo aimed to claim Sergio Perez’s seat, but his recent results have pivoted his focus to staying with Red Bull for 2025.
However, at the Canadian Grand Prix, Ricciardo had his strongest weekend of the season so far. He managed to qualify fifth on Saturday and finished eighth on Sunday despite a poor start and a penalty for a false start. Ricciardo emphasized the importance of maintaining the determination he had brought into the Montreal race.
‘I’ve just got to keep it rolling,’ Ricciardo told Motorsport.com about his takeaway from Canada. ‘That little energy, probably a little bit of a chip on my shoulder I brought into the weekend, I’ve got to make sure that that stays there, and just keep that level of intensity. I don’t know if it’s the need to be a bit angry or just get my testosterone up, but I think it helps me.’
Ricciardo also acknowledged that this could be a turning point for him, but he understands the need to replicate this performance consistently. ‘There’s certainly some hope that it is a turning point. Obviously, I’ve got to repeat it and back it up to prove it,’ he said. ‘But I’m definitely happy with some things that I’ve acknowledged since Monaco, and it’s no coincidence that this weekend went a bit smoother. It’s just making sure that we keep tapping into it and that I’m holding myself accountable, not getting too relaxed and happy-go-lucky.’
Despite a strong qualifying session, Ricciardo’s race started to go downhill as soon as the lights went out. He struggled to get off the wet starting grid, losing positions right off the bat and incurring a five-second penalty for a false start.
While the Canadian Grand Prix provided a glimmer of hope for Ricciardo, he knows that the road ahead is still challenging. Maintaining his intensity and competitive edge will be crucial as he fights to preserve his spot in Formula 1.
Source: Motorsport
