Almost every F1 news outlet has dissected Daniel Ricciardo’s impressive Mexico drive. However, his impact at AlphaTauri goes beyond this.
Many things come to mind when the name Daniel Ricciardo is mentioned. His eight F1 race wins, willingness to make bold overtakes and vibrant personality are among them. Alongside these characteristics, the Australian’s other qualities should not be overlooked.
After securing his first points since returning to F1 last weekend, more profound insights are being validated regarding the 34-year-old. For several weeks now, even whilst injured, AlphaTauri have been highly complimentary of Ricciardo.
This goes beyond his ability and performance on track. AlphaTauri’s CEO has spoken extensively about the value of an experienced driver. For some time, these quotes were met with mixed reactions – given the team’s traditional role of developing young drivers.
To be clear, the Faenza-based team still does this. Liam Lawson is almost certain to receive an F1 contract in the next 12 months, likely partnering 23-year-old Yuki Tsunoda.
Ricciardo set-up insights
With that said, AlphaTauri is a team who were somewhat directionless in early 2023. This is not to dismiss the contributions of Tsunoda, which were often admirable in a largely uninspiring AT04 machine. But the impact of Daniel Ricciardo’s arrival cannot be overestimated.
Returning to the issue of AlphaTauri’s direction, the Australian’s insights in set-up have been invaluable. Throughout the F1 paddock, it is understood that his feedback since returning has pushed the Italian outfit forward.
This isn’t to suggest that his comments on handling and set-up are the only factor. The updates introduced at the Singapore GP, for example, have been a huge help for Franz Tost’s team.
As the 2024 season approaches, there will also be more collaboration between AlphaTauri and Red Bull. This will elevate the team’s performance as they take advantage of the insights and development at Milton Keynes.
Despite this, the Ricciardo factor is more than relevant.
Upon first returning to the grid in Hungary, he was largely dependent on the set-up used by Tsunoda. With more time and confidence at the wheel, Ricciardo has managed to personalise the handling of his AT04. As seen on numerous occasions now, confidence is crucial in Formula 1.
Changing the narrative heading into 2024
Still, Ricciardo deserves huge credit for his efforts. During his McLaren stint, plenty of questions were raised about his technical know-how. The 34-year-old has since admitted that obsessing over his driving style at the Woking team was detrimental.
However, in this new environment, the 8-time race winner is more comfortable. Even with his track time interrupted after an unfortunate Zandvoort incident, Ricciardo is wasting no time in finding his feet.
His form must continue in the last rounds of 2023, especially as AlphaTauri appear competitive enough for solid points. Regardless of where Red Bull wants him to compete next season, F1 news headlines reflect that Daniel Ricciardo is changing the narrative.
