Ricciardo form woes a 'very good problem to have' - RB

RB team principal Laurent Mekies insists Daniel Ricciardo's patchy F1 form is a "good problem to have" but conceded a decision on his future is needed swiftly. 

Ricciardo has largely been overshadowed by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in the first half of 2024, scoring 12 points to the Japanese's 22 in the first 14 races, but had stand-out performances in the Miami sprint and Canadian GP. 

Given the Australian's form, RB reserve Liam Lawson has been heavily touted as a replacement, with Tsunoda already confirmed for 2025, with Red Bull possibly set to lose Lawson if it cannot offer him a race seat either at Red Bull or RB. 

Mekies, facing the first major driver line-up call as a team principal insists the Ricciardo dilemma is one worth having, but conceded a resolution is needed quickly.

"We kept saying that the simple truth is that [Ricciardo's form] is a very good problem to have," Mekies told RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview. 

"Yes, we have three skilled drivers. Do we only have two race seats? Yes. 

"Are we in a rush to make the call, no. That is what we have been saying all year long, we said we will have a chat in the summer break. 

"That is the right time to start putting some [plans] for next year. Is Daniel in a super aggressive state to try and defend the seat? Yes. 

"As people often ask us, do you think Daniel can still be at the level we used to see in the Red Bull a few years ago?

"At which point, you look at Miami, look at Canada and then the question is how do you get that consistency at that level?

"So yes, we have a super competitive duo with a fantastic talent that is waiting, and does that play a role in the first half of the season success?

"Yes, Daniel has helped to massively put us up and Liam with the work in the background is one of the things that we have been enjoying when we returned to Europe. 

"We could use Liam in the simulator and then he could fly to the race, and so the three of them are pushing the team but we will have to make the call soon enough."

Making it work for Ricciardo

Ricciardo's form has never truly recovered since leaving McLaren after a poor 2022 season, in which his confidence was destroyed. 

Hopes of a return to Red Bull were dashed by his poor performances, with Mekies highlighting the big technical sensitivity of the eight-time grand prix winner as a reason for his up and down form.

"It is really about giving him the car characteristic so he is able to perform in multiple conditons. 

"As a matter of fact, so far we cannot give him those kind of conditions, so there is a path where we need to do more on our side to try to do it in a few more conditions. 

"He knows what he needs to do on his side to try and adapt to it in some conditions, and then if we do that, it will raise the level of how often you can operate at that critical level. 

"I have no clue about McLaren, so all I can say is that Daniel has a very high technical sensitivity, which is a huge asset for the team in terms of where you want to develop the car. 

"I guess that with that, it means he is also more sensitive to moments where the car is suboptimal in terms of what can give him car balance."