Daniel Ricciardo Receives Career Boost in....

Daniel Ricciardo Receives Career Boost in….read more

Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian racing driver, has recently received a significant boost in his career prospects, thanks to the overwhelming support from Formula 1 fans in a year-end poll. Ricciardo, who had his seat axed by Red Bull back in September, has been considered by many as one of the unluckiest drivers in F1 for the 2024 season.

Ricciardo’s fall from grace came after a tough season with the Red Bull junior team, AlphaTauri (previously known as Toro Rosso). Despite being brought in as a replacement for the injured Nyck de Vries mid-season, Ricciardo struggled to match his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, both in terms of race performance and overall results. His lackluster performances led to the difficult decision to part ways with the Australian driver for the 2024 season. Red Bull’s decision to drop Ricciardo allowed young New Zealander Liam Lawson to step into the seat, and the 22-year-old impressed enough to earn a promotion to the senior Red Bull team, where he will race alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen in 2025.

While Ricciardo’s departure from Red Bull marked the end of his direct involvement with the team, his popularity among F1 fans remains strong. Despite the absence of official announcements regarding his return to the grid for 2025 or beyond, Ricciardo has continued to garner the admiration of his loyal fanbase. In the wake of the 2024 season’s conclusion, the Australian driver was voted by F1 fans as the “unluckiest driver” of the year in a fan poll conducted by GPFans. Ricciardo received a staggering 44 percent of the vote, making him the clear winner in the category.

The poll, which was part of GPFans’ annual end-of-season awards, aimed to recognize and celebrate key moments and figures in F1 over the past year. Categories ranged from “best non-champion driver” to “most improved team,” and from “unluckiest driver” to “best grand prix.” Ricciardo’s win in the “unluckiest driver” category highlights how F1 fans sympathized with his difficult 2024 campaign, where he was consistently outperformed by his teammate Tsunoda, a young driver still finding his footing in the sport.

Despite Ricciardo’s popularity among fans, the 2024 season was undeniably a tough one for the Aussie. In the head-to-head battle with Tsunoda at AlphaTauri, Ricciardo struggled to make a notable impact. His results were not up to the level expected from a driver with his experience, and the points he contributed were minimal in comparison to Tsunoda’s more consistent performances. In fact, Ricciardo failed to deliver the kind of results that could justify his continued presence on the F1 grid, contributing to his eventual dismissal.

Nevertheless, Ricciardo’s popularity remains undiminished. The fact that F1 fans overwhelmingly voted him as the unluckiest driver of the year speaks to the affection they still hold for him and the sense that his downfall was more due to circumstances and team dynamics rather than a lack of talent. Ricciardo’s experience, which includes seven Grand Prix wins and numerous podium finishes, still positions him as one of the sport’s most respected and charismatic figures. Even if the 2024 season didn’t go as planned for him, many fans believe that he still has the potential to make a significant return to Formula 1, should the right opportunity arise.

Ricciardo’s standing in the poll was notably higher than that of other drivers, including Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas, who secured second place with 19 percent of the vote. Bottas, who was in his final season with Alfa Romeo (now known as Sauber), had a similarly challenging year, marked by disappointing results for both him and the team. Another driver who faced a rough year was Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, who came third with 18 percent of the vote, having lost his spot at Ferrari in favor of a potential driver shuffle within the Scuderia ranks.

Yuki Tsunoda, Ricciardo’s teammate at AlphaTauri, was also deemed unlucky, securing 16 percent of the vote. Despite his strong performances, Tsunoda was passed over for a promotion to the senior Red Bull team, a decision that was likely influenced by the rapid development of other young drivers such as Lawson. Finally, Alex Albon of Williams appeared in the poll but received only three percent of the vote, indicating that fans did not view his season as particularly unlucky in comparison to the others.

Although Ricciardo’s future in F1 is uncertain, this fan recognition could serve as a much-needed boost to his career. With teams often on the lookout for experienced and marketable drivers, Ricciardo’s consistent popularity among fans could lead to future opportunities, especially if he continues to maintain his connection with the sport and remains involved in off-track activities. For now, Ricciardo will undoubtedly take comfort in the fan recognition, as he waits for a possible return to the sport that has defined his career.