{"id":24096,"date":"2024-09-04T15:41:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T19:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=24096"},"modified":"2024-09-04T15:41:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T19:41:59","slug":"daniel-ricciardo-wants-to-earn-seat-alongside-verstappen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2024\/09\/04\/daniel-ricciardo-wants-to-earn-seat-alongside-verstappen\/","title":{"rendered":"Daniel Ricciardo wants to “earn” seat alongside Verstappen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amidst the intensifying Championship fight behind Red Bull<\/a>, McLaren, and Ferrari, the midfield battle has become somewhat overlooked. Specifically, VCARB’s poor development has gone under the radar. However, the Faenza team’s decline is relevant, especially as Daniel Ricciardo<\/a> and Yuki Tsunoda fight for a promotion.<\/p>\n

Daniel Ricciardo: I know this could be my last chance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For the first time since the opening two rounds, VCARB has failed to score points in consecutive races. As Williams<\/a>, Haas, and even Alpine take steps forward, the Racing Bulls are stagnant.<\/p>\n

The team did comparison work between their drivers at the Italian GP. Tsunoda ran the latest upgrades, whilst Ricciardo used the old-spec car.<\/p>\n

Tsunoda’s feedback about the updates was extremely negative, with VCARB and even Helmut Marko<\/a> confirming the new package failed to generate improvements.<\/p>\n

This also has implications for Daniel Ricciardo, who finds himself in increasingly mediocre machinery.<\/p>\n

Several factors will determine Red Bull’s future plans with the Australian. However, having a car capable of points could be what tips the scale for Ricciardo – especially as Red Bull formulate their plans for 2025:<\/p>\n

“I appreciate that I don’t know if I’ve got one year left, five years left. So I’m treating it like it’s my last chance,” he told Goodwood<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>