RB Daniel Ricciardo feels he needs to temper expectations over his chances of finishing on the podium at the 2024 F1 season opener in Bahrain as he plans what the top standings will look like. .
Testing for the 2024 F1 Bahrain is currently underway, with Bahrain International Circuit hosting the opening weekend from February 29th to March 2nd, with the race on track for the first Grand Prix of the season.
Testing is notoriously difficult to judge the standings, but the performances from Red Bull and Ferrari were outstanding and Ricciardo believes they are in good shape for the first race.
Will Red Bull and Ferrari compete for F1's first podium in 2024?
Red Bull were the majority of pace-setting candidates in the F1 paddock in Bahrain, but by some margin it was Ferrari who set the fastest time in the test, with Carlos Sainz's best lap of 1:29.921, seven ahead of Red Bull. /10 seconds difference. Bull's fastest effort comes courtesy of Sergio Perez.
And in Ricciardo's observation, Red Bull and Ferrari are the teams closest to the podium in Bahrain.
“As a viewer, I think that [can see]it looks like the strong candidates to be on the podium here in a week's time will be Red Bull and Ferrari,” Ricciardo told the media.
“Anything can happen, but I think they certainly look pretty good at the moment.”
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Given all the talk surrounding RB's strengthening relationship with parent team Red Bull, some are seeing him as a dark horse to challenge for a podium himself in Bahrain.
However, Ricciardo seemed to dispel such thoughts, saying it would be a good job for them to advance to the final stage of qualifying in Bahrain and secure a top-10 points-scoring result.
“After that, yeah, we probably got pretty close, but I think it's still a battle in the middle,” Ricciardo continued. “I know people are pretty excited about us, but I'm just trying to calm it down.
“I think we're probably where we expected. Of course we're hoping to get stronger as the year goes on and be at the front of the midfield, but right now we're hopefully in Q3 and a top-10 car.” I think it's going to be, but I'm so excited that I think it's probably going to be much more than that.”
Ricciardo will once again be partnered with Yuki Tsunoda at RB, and with Perez's current contract running until the end of 2024, both drivers are expected to challenge for the Red Bull seat in 2025.
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