Daniel Ricciardo has begun to question whether switching chassis could be the solution to his recent downturn in performance. The 34-year-old Australian had hoped to make a strong impression in the RB cockpit this season to secure a return to the main Red Bull Racing team. Yet, it is his teammate Yuki Tsunoda who currently dominates the team dynamic.
"I'm trying to understand what can come from me, what can come from the car, what maybe the car doesn't give me, what I'm looking for, things like that," Ricciardo expressed at Suzuka.
He refuted any comparison of his current situation to his previous challenges at McLaren, where the team opted to part ways with him a year ahead of schedule following a notable dip in his confidence. "It's not a McLaren situation," Ricciardo clarified.
"Personally, confidence, happiness, all that really remains unchanged. It's just about getting a result. If I have two good races now, the bad ones are suddenly forgotten. But inside, I feel really good and that's why it's a bit strange that the results haven't arrived yet."
Ricciardo has acknowledged contemplating the existence of a fundamental issue with his current chassis, produced in Faenza. "We've had a conversation about replacing the chassis," he mentioned. "Of course I've thought about it. You just want to make sure. You know, I've been in Formula 1 for a long time and I can detect even small deviations. So I've mentioned the issue."
