Ricciardo F1 failure baffling: 'They had the same equipment'

Racing Bulls sporting director Alan Permane has insisted Daniel Ricciardo was given equal equipment at all times to Yuki Tsunoda in 2024.

Tsunoda comprehensively out-performed Ricciardo during their 18 races together before the Australian was removed from the race seat following the Singapore GP. 

At that time, Ricciardo had 12 points to Tsunoda's 22, but the Australian could not regularly match Tsunoda's pace, especially in qualifying. 

Ricciardo's highlight of the season was fourth in the Miami sprint race, but Permane, who joined from Alpine, has rejected the idea that a difference in upgrades and car-spec stymied Ricciardo's pace - adding that nobody in the team could figure out why his form had slumped so badly.

"I don't think the design or failure with some of our aero upgrades affected Daniel," Permane told media including RacingNews365. 

"Both cars had the same equipment all through the season, so I don't think that was at play, and I don't think the car became less favourable to one driver. 

"I don't really understand the reasons for Daniel's lack of performance, because obviously there was a lack of performance there. 

"It was a car capable, on occasion, not every race, but quite often was capable of Q3, but Daniel was out in Q1, and that was a massive source of frustration for him. 

"We did everything we could to support and help him, and we all tried to figure out what was going on. 

"Drivers come and go because people think that either their time is up or there is someone better on the market, but he certainly had the same equipment."