McLaren Failure Has Pushed Daniel Ricciardo to His “Race Winning” Best, Claims VCARB Boss

The Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 has provided some crucial insights about the teams and their positions on the grid. Surprisingly, the season opener also unveiled an unexpected intra-team rivalry, quietly brewing under the surface. The discussion concerns Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda, who aim to take the second seat at Red Bull.

Meanwhile, Aussie, a razor-sharp driver, is recognized for his blend of raw speed and superb race craft. During his tenure with Red Bull, he consistently graced the podium. However, the new boss of VCARB Laurent Mekies has acknowledged that Daniel Ricciardo is seen as a potential candidate for Red Bull more than Yuki Tsunoda.

McLaren setback sparks race-winning drive for Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo’s previous performances on the track were not satisfactory. Upon joining McLaren, his goal was to help the team regain its position at the forefront of the grid. However, while Lando Norris maximized the car’s potential last year, the Aussie struggled to match his performance. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old rejoined Red Bull as a reserve and eventually replaced Nyck de Vries at Red Bull’s junior team, AlphaTauri. On the other hand, Yuki Tsunoda is also trying to secure Red Bull’s second seat.

The Visa Cash App RB team is in a luxurious position to have skilled drivers for the 2025 season. But the new boss is looking forward to having the Australian racing for VCARB. In the recent podcast of F1: Beyond the Grid, Laurent Mekies was asked about Daniel Ricciardo and the rough patch he faced for the last few years.

The former Racing Director of Ferrari responded, “In the first couple of days with Daniel, you see a race-winning guy. You see a guy who has been hunting for races, podiums, that’s how it looks so. Daniel you see in the car is fighting for the very top position. Actually, for whatever reasons, I am lucky enough to have a race-winning guy in our team. So I guess the Daniel we have now is the best Daniel we have seen.”

The 46-year-old added, “Of course, he has had a rough patch in the last few years. But ironically, it is now putting him in the best mindset, in the best spirit and energy. He has this incredible technical sensitivity. He’s buying into the project like he’s living Visa Cash App RB. He’s pushing us with all the possibilities that we will know about him. I think in the start of the project, like, having a guy like Daniel on our team is just a game-changer.”

Read More: Yuki Tsunoda Reveals “Strange” Experience with Daniel Ricciardo Amid Fight for Red Bull Seat

Based on his conversation, the boss of Red Bull Racing is favoring the Aussie over Yuki Tsunoda. Moreover, the 34-year-old driver is keen to rejoin Red Bull after facing setbacks at McLaren.

Daniel Ricciardo’s plans for 2025

The Australian man’s top goal is to achieve results akin to those that once deemed him a potential world champion at Red Bull. After the rough time at McLaren that led to his premature departure before his contract ended, he feels like the “Red Bull-spec Daniel” again. He shared his feelings with Formula 1.com. “I’ve enjoyed getting back to this place. Everyone has their path, this has been mine – and I’m happy to be back at this place now where I feel I have still got it. Ultimately, I still want to do it – and I want to do it because I feel like there’s more to prove.”

This is the most compelling hint, suggesting that he believes he is back to his peak performance and shows no inclination to lurk at the back of the pack and fill the grid. The former Mclaren driver remains a point of interest for the Red Bull, making him one of the primary contenders for replacing Sergio Perez next season. Apart from this, Fernando Alonso is the prime example of an experienced and competent driver who remains in demand, currently competing for Aston Martin in his 40s.

The impressive racer will probably receive interest from contending teams because many transfers are predicted at the end of this season. Do you think Ricciardo can reclaim the Red Bull seat? Let us know in the comments section.