Assessing Daniel Ricciardo’s #18 Position in the 2024 F1 Driver Rankings

The 2024 Formula 1 season presented a pivotal moment for Daniel Ricciardo, a crossroad that would define the twilight of his esteemed career. For the hugely popular 35-year-old Australian, the stakes were incredibly high: a potential, triumphant recall to the race-winning Red Bull Racing team he had famously departed six years prior, or the poignant, irreversible conclusion of his Formula 1 journey. With a heavy heart for his legion of devoted fans and the broader F1 community, it was the latter outcome that ultimately materialized, marking the end of an era for one of the sport’s most charismatic figures.

Ricciardo’s return to the grid with the then-AlphaTauri team (now Visa Cash App RB) in mid-2023 was imbued with a sense of renewed purpose and aspiration. After a challenging stint at McLaren, and a period on the sidelines as Red Bull’s reserve driver, 2024 was envisioned as his definitive shot at redemption, a chance to prove his enduring speed and secure a coveted seat back at the front of the grid. The narrative was set, the anticipation palpable – could the “Honey Badger” reclaim his vintage form and ascend back to the pinnacle of motorsport? Unfortunately, the season’s early rounds quickly established a pattern of struggle, setting the tone for what would become a truncated and ultimately disappointing campaign.

The opening races of the 2024 season painted a grim picture for Ricciardo. In Bahrain, despite being allowed past an understandably irate Yuki Tsunoda through team orders, he found himself noticeably off his team mate’s pace, a concerning gap that would persist. The subsequent round in Jeddah saw no improvement, with Ricciardo again trailing Tsunoda significantly, struggling to extract consistent performance from the RB car. The pressure intensified at his home race in Australia, where the emotional weight of performing in front of his compatriots often fuels a driver’s best. However, the weekend proved disastrous as he was unceremoniously eliminated in Q1, a stark indicator of his struggles. The Japanese Grand Prix then delivered another cruel blow, ending prematurely for Ricciardo after a first-lap tangle with Alexander Albon, effectively dashing any hopes of salvaging an early points finish or building momentum.

Flashes of Brilliance Amidst the Battle

Despite the prevailing narrative of struggle, there were fleeting moments when Daniel Ricciardo showcased glimpses of the talent and tenacity that had once made him a Grand Prix winner and fan favourite. These were the exceptions, shining brightly against an otherwise consistently underwhelming backdrop, reminding everyone of the “Ricciardo of old.”

One such standout performance came in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race. In a display reminiscent of his peak years, Ricciardo started and finished an impressive fourth, outmanoeuvring numerous rivals and holding his own against the sport’s elite. He was beaten only by the formidable Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc – a result that sent a wave of optimism through his camp and among his supporters. His aggressive yet controlled driving, strategic prowess, and masterful defence suggested that the raw speed was still there, lying dormant, waiting for the right moment to ignite.

Another strong showing unfolded in the notoriously tricky conditions of the Canadian Grand Prix. Navigating the demanding Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Ricciardo demonstrated his experience and fine touch, securing eighth place. This achievement was particularly commendable given he incurred a penalty for a jump start, later attributed to a creeping clutch issue, which forced him to fight back through the field. His ability to recover positions and deliver points in challenging circumstances underscored his enduring skill and provided another brief, but welcome, highlight in an otherwise difficult season.

The Persistent Challenges: Qualifying and Race Starts

However, these isolated successes were insufficient to mask the deeper, systemic issues that plagued Ricciardo’s 2024 campaign. His qualifying performances were consistently sub-par, a critical disadvantage in modern Formula 1 where grid position often dictates race outcome, especially for midfield teams. The inability to consistently extract maximum performance from the RB car in crucial qualifying sessions meant he often started races from compromised positions, making his task significantly harder.

Adding to his low grid positions, Ricciardo frequently exacerbated his struggles by tending to lose places at the start of races. This double blow – poor qualifying followed by a suboptimal getaway – often meant he had an uphill battle from the very first corner. Indeed, by the time Red Bull’s senior management finally conceded that their efforts to coax Ricciardo back to his past best were proving fruitless, he was statistically noted as one of the worst starters on the grid. This consistent loss of positions in the opening metres of a race further hampered his ability to fight for points, forcing him into recovery drives weekend after weekend.

Navigating Car Development and The Writing on the Wall

While occasionally he was able to improve his track positions during races, making some impressive overtakes, far more often he found himself with too much ground to make up by lap two. Points finishes became a genuine rarity, a stark contrast to his earlier career where he was a consistent threat for top positions. It is true that the RB team experienced its own share of difficulties with car development throughout the season, introducing upgrades that sometimes failed to deliver the expected performance gains, or even set them back. However, RB was hardly the only team to bring a “duff upgrade” during 2024. A driver of Ricciardo’s immense experience, having passed 250 Grand Prix starts the previous year, would ordinarily be expected to be better placed than most to adapt to such setbacks and still extract maximum potential from the machinery available. The ongoing struggle hinted at a deeper disconnect between driver and car, or perhaps a waning ability to adapt to the relentless demands of modern F1.

As the second half of the season unfolded, the signs were increasingly clear; the writing was unequivocally on the wall for Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career. The intense pressure from within the Red Bull driver programme, particularly from the highly-rated reserve driver Liam Lawson, mounted relentlessly. Ricciardo’s performance continued to falter, culminating in Q1 eliminations during his final two appearances of the season. These dispiriting results underscored the reality that his F1 journey was nearing its conclusion, leaving many to wonder what could have been.

In a final, poignant, and almost ironic twist of fate, Ricciardo’s last significant act as an active F1 driver provided a subtle yet impactful service to his former team. He managed to snatch the fastest lap away from Max Verstappen’s championship rival in one of his concluding races. While he never achieved his ultimate goal of returning to a Red Bull race seat, this final gesture ensured that his career ended not with a whimper, but with a competitive flourish that directly benefited his old employer, a fitting, bittersweet farewell for a driver who embodied passion and charisma. This final act was a reminder of the competitive spirit that once made him a formidable force in the sport, leaving fans with a complex mix of nostalgia and regret.

Ricciardo’s Legacy and the Future of F1

Daniel Ricciardo leaves behind a significant legacy in Formula 1. Known for his infectious smile, daring overtakes, and ‘shoey’ celebrations, he was more than just a driver; he was an ambassador for the sport, bringing joy and excitement wherever he raced. His journey, from a promising Red Bull prodigy to a multiple Grand Prix winner, and then through the challenges at Renault and McLaren, culminated in a final season that highlighted the brutal realities of professional sport. The F1 paddock will undoubtedly miss his unique personality and the sheer joy he brought to racing, even as the sport relentlessly moves forward, constantly seeking the next generation of talent.

RaceFans’ driver rankings are based partly on the scores awarded to drivers for their performances in each round as well as other factors, offering a comprehensive look at their season-long efforts.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free

Explore More Formula 1 Content

• Controversies, Norris, Newey and more: Five new motorsport books reviewed
• One of F1’s greatest races happened 15 years ago today. Or did it?
• “Overtaking is overtaking”: Domenicali denies F1’s yo-yo racing is “artificial”
• The crashes F1 is trying to prevent may be rare – but the danger is obvious
• F1 returning to India soon after 2027 sounds like wishful thinking

Browse all Formula 1 articles