MIAMI — Long after the checkered flag flew in Miami, drawing to a discontinuance the F1 Lunge rush right here on Saturday, Visa Money App RB F1 Crew driver Daniel Ricciardo was as soon as serene in the TV pen, talking to each media outlet he could per chance well per chance, while flashing his trademark smile.
With appropriate purpose.
The wake of a disappointing launch as much as the season was as soon as in the help of him, and the promise of brighter days were on the horizon. Following the day previous’s salvage Lunge Qualifying performance, that saw Ricciardo assemble in P4 and launch this day’s F1 Lunge Speed on the 2nd row, Ricciardo performed the job, inserting fourth for his first choices of the season, and for the crew’s entirely result this yr.
And in all likelihood quieting for a moment the rumors about his F1 future.
Early in the F1 Lunge Speed Ricciardo pushed up into P3 for a moment, getting by Crimson Bull driver Sergio Pérez and hanging himself in podium residing. Alternatively, on the fifth lap Pérez returned the prefer, sneaking by Ricciardo and shuffling the VCARB driver down into P4.
Because the Lunge Speed wore on, Ricciardo’s rear-peep mirrors were stuffed with Ferrari red — and blue, this weekend — as Carlos Sainz Jr. persevered to discontinuance the gap. Oscar Piastri joined the fray as well, and it regarded as if Ricciardo would have to squeeze each remaining little bit of performance out of his RB01 to lend a hand on for fourth.
He did.
And since the Australian driver crossed the line, the entire crew well-known, and you might want to to per chance well per chance per chance almost hear the rest from Ricciardo:
“I rob it on the entrance,” stated Ricciardo. “That was as soon as relaxing. Thanks … thanks guys.”
As Ricciardo exited the garage and headed in direction of the media condominium, you might want to to per chance well per chance per chance again explore the rest in his eyes, moreover that trademark smile:
Talking with the media following the rush, Ricciardo made immediate point out of the constant chatter about his future. “Qualifying was as soon as clearly enormous, nonetheless to relief it up over the path of a Lunge rush, that’s great extra fulfilling,” stated the motive force in the future of his TV interviews. “It feels very appropriate and nice to also lend a hand just a few folks silent!”
The yr began with Ricciardo’s name being mentioned for a doubtless residing at Crimson Bull alongside Max Verstappen next season, with Pérez utilizing on an expiring contract. However a leisurely launch as much as the yr not entirely raised questions about these prospects, nonetheless called into salvage a question to Ricciardo’s future in the game. Anytime Ricciardo did not attain in the future of qualifying, or was as soon as overtaken on the display screen, cameras would straight away lower to Liam Lawson, the looming specter of the younger driver hanging over Ricciardo’s demonstrate, and future.
However these digicam cuts can wait.
As a consequence of that smile is help.
