MIAMI — Long after the checkered flag had flown in Miami as the Formula 1 sprint race drew to a close here on Saturday, Visa Cash App RB F1 team driver Daniel Ricciardo was still in the TV enclosure, turning on the TV to flash. I was shining and talking to all the media I could. Trademark smile.
For good reason.
The aftermath of a disappointing start to the season had passed and brighter days were promising. Following a strong performance in yesterday’s sprint qualifying, Ricciardo finished 4th and started today’s F1 sprint race from the second row, but Ricciardo finished the job in 4th, scoring his first points of the season and taking his place in this year’s Achieved the team’s best result.
And perhaps the rumors about his future in F1 will die down for a while.
Early in the F1 sprint race, Ricciardo briefly moved into third place, passing Red Bull driver Sergio Perez for a podium spot. However, on lap five Perez returned the favor, slipping past Ricciardo and shuffling the VCARB driver back to fourth.
As Carlos Sainz Jr. continues to close the gap as the sprint race progresses, Ricciardo’s rearview mirror is filled with Ferrari red, and this weekend, blue. Oscar Piastri also joined the fray, and it looked like Ricciardo would need to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of his RB01 to protect fourth place.
He did it.
And when the Australian driver crossed the line, the whole team celebrated and you could almost hear Ricciardo’s cry of relief.
“I prefer the front,” Ricciardo said. “That was fun. Thank you…thank you guys.”
As Ricciardo left the garage and headed to the media area, we could see the look of relief in his eyes again and his trademark smile.
After the race, Ricciardo briefly mentioned in an interview with the media that he had been constantly discussing his future. “Qualifying was great, of course, but it would be even more satisfying if we could back it up in the sprint race,” the driver said in a TV interview. “It feels so good and good to make some people quiet!”
The year started with Ricciardo’s name being mentioned as a potential spot at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen next season, with Perez driving at the end of his contract. But a late start to the year has not only put that outlook in doubt, but also Ricciardo’s future in the sport. Whenever Ricciardo failed to advance in qualifying or was overtaken on track, the camera immediately cut to Liam Lawson. He appears as the ghost of a young driver who casts a shadow over Ricciardo’s present and future.
But the camera cut can wait.
That smile is back.
