Summer Break, Team Analysis - Formula 1 2024

Visa Cash App RB F1 Racing Team... seriously, what the heck is going on here? Did this season fall apart from Day 1 in naming the team? There is something to be said about the K.I.S.S. method here, and they certainly aren't doing it.

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Well here we are, half way thru the season, 34 points, and still a mixed bag of chaos. From a disastrous re-brand, to Tsunoda and Ricciardo being far from 'teammates', the season just has not been an easy one. The car has looked quite competitive at times, but stringing that together hasn't really happened. The upgrades in the recent races seem to also be on a 'work in progress' atmosphere where they switch some performance on, but others off at the same time. I suppose that's something every team deals with, but sure seems like there have not been any great advancements for RB.

Aside from the car issues, the drivers continue to stumble over themselves. Tsunoda is signed on for next season, Ricciardo has not as of this post. But Tsunoda, who can do some great driving, continues to be unreliable. Yes, not always his fault, but, he needs to step up and take ownness of the fact his weekend to weekend results continue to be erratic. His best finishes were a pair of 7th places at the Australian and Miami Grand Prix's, followed by an 8th place at Monaco. Sort of take Monaco with a grain of salt as you almost never see anyone get passed there. The other races are all more or less 14th place or worse, with the most recent being a 9th in Hungary but then a 16th in Belgium. He did take an engine penalty and started 20th in Belgium, but the Spa track is a great one to make passes on.

So when news came out within the last couple of weeks and just prior to Sergio being announced as still being Red Bull's #2, it was mystifying there was so much disgruntlement from Tsunoda about Liam Lawson's name being thrown in the mix to replace Sergio over his.

He and Ricciardo have voiced recently as well that they don't see RB F1 Visa Cash whatever as being the 'junior' or 'sister' team of Red Bull. Well guess what, as long as there is an RB in that mess of a team name, they better keep their focus on proving they are worthy of a seat at Red Bull, cause it's still the best way to get it. Horner and Marko keep a keen eye on whats happening at the 'junior' team, and have much influence over their direction. Till that changes, it's put up or shut up.

Speaking of, and though I love Daniel Ricciardo, but again I'm sorry Danny. I don't see you back next year for any team. Yes his results have gotten a bit better, and at the beginning of the season, I was projecting him to finish in 10th. But it's been a tough year for him overall. There is signs of improvement though. His last three races were 13th, 12th and 10th, but in order for him to be a driver next season, he needs to finish out the year being in 10th place or higher for each of the coming races. His best years at Red Bull are long behind him, and though he has the desire to continue, he is not the Danny of old. His last win was 4 years ago at a struggling McLaren team, but just as McLaren has put that struggle and those days behind them, too shall the rest of the field, and the love affair with Ricciardo has little hope of continuing in 2025.

6th place prior to the break is a gift with all that chaos. But they better start looking long and hard at their mirrors, because Haas is poised to overtake down the straight.