F1 News:F1 team boss reveals promising Miami GP 'upgrade' for Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB, Visa, RB, Japan, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

F1 team boss reveals promising Miami GP 'upgrade' for Ricciardo

Laurent Mekies hopeful that upgrades will propel VCARB to points

By Shay Rogers.

Tuesday 30 April 2024 17:00

A Formula 1 team boss has given Daniel Ricciardo’s point scoring chances a valuable boost ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

The Aussie is yet to score a point in 2024, and his lacklustre performances have left him at the centre of rumours that Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson may replace him during the season.

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Helmut Marko has refuted those claims and remains insistent that Ricciardo will get a fair shot to prove himself as the season goes on.

Admittedly, the ‘Honey Badger’ hasn’t experienced much luck lately – including being shunted by Lance Stroll at the Chinese Grand Prix while enjoying a good weekend.

Daniel Ricciardo is yet to score a point in 2024

Daniel Ricciardo's VCARB at the Chinese Grand Prix

Can Daniel Ricciardo score points in Miami?

If he can start to beat team-mate Yuki Tsunoda on a regular basis, then he may even be able to stake a claim for a 2025 Red Bull seat if he can build some momentum.

Team boss Laurent Mekies shared some promising information for Ricciardo as F1 heads to North America for the first time this season.

“We'll have an update in Miami to help us try to keep surfing on the top of that very edge," he told Autosport.

“There is nothing guaranteed in this group. I'm sure our competitors will bring updates as well and only if you nail the weekend will you get to that P10.”

Ricciardo’s last stunning performance also came in North America, finishing seventh at the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix as he helped AlphaTauri in a late season resurgence.

He will be hoping to replicate that form in Miami and help this team retain sixth place in the constructors’ standings throughout the rest of the season.

Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo Liam Lawson Helmut Marko Miami Grand Prix Lance Stroll