Danny Ric is one of the most mediocre drivers F1 has seen, and he drove for some good teams (RB, Mclaren, Renault). I don’t understand why everyone is rooting for him to be back in F1- he’s mid

At age 34, Danny Ric has 8 wins and 32 podiums- that is mid.

Bottas is younger and has more. Now you can argue that he was in a Merc, which is fair. But Danny Ric has consistently over the years underperformed his teammate in every car he has been- that says a lot.

Even Checo did better in a shittier car than Danny Ric in a good car

I may have been aggressive, apologies. Let’s give him a chance.

Daniel Ricciardo has an incredible agent! Praised be he (the agent that is)

That's a very aggressive stance, OP. What did he do to hurt you?

You could say the same thing about Bottas, Lando, Alonso, Kimi, and Checo. And ALL of those guys are world-class.

Fact is, this is a sport where you are HEAVILY dependent on the machinery.

Hamilton and Max proved that over and over the last 18 months.

If you want to argue that it should be based on wins alone, then LH, Seb, and Schumi and now Max are probably the only talented top drivers this century.

Also, in what world is Renault a good team? They've only won 2 WDC & 2 WCCs in history.

Clearly, being a good engine manufacturer alone doesn't make you a good racing team.

Leaving RB was his own fault, I'll be the second person to admit that (DR is probably the 1st).

McLaren, though? They've been struggling to retain their former glory for 10 years. Other than a blip upwards for one year before Sainz left, they weren't looking at anything top team worthy since the Button-Hamilton era in like 2011. They started their downfall way back then. They're doing well to reinvent their driving and design approach, and they have two talents in Oscar and Lando. If they can't pull off regular podium fights with Lando then their problem is in the car.

You show me a driver who can do incredible things with jack-shit machinery. I guarantee you there's only about a half dozen in history.

DR, in the meantime, has objectively come into a shite car after 6 months off the grid and still bests half the grid in qualis? Don't write him off so soon, OP. He's just getting warmed up.

DR did what he needed this weekend. Beat his teammate. Think he could have delivered points had he not gotten caught out in turn 1 incident at the start.

As for mediocre, I don't agree. He did better in his 4 years at RedBull than Webber did in 7 years with them and that was during a time RBR wasn't the best car on the grid and I think that was one reason he left, car wasn't designed around him and he saw a chance moving to a team that he thought would build a car around him, a team that is/was a front runner. Basically, he tried to do a Hamilton, except the new team messed up their design under the new regulations and became a back marker team, and the car was not designed around him to suit his driving style and yes there he failed because he couldn't adapt his driving style.

Can’t believe Danny Ric got a contract for 2024. Dude has proven nothing to deserve a seat. I guess being likeable is underrated

Nevertheless, let's call a spade a spade... DR is unlikely to get back into the RBR 2nd seat. It doesn't really serve red bull unless Checo somehow self destructive and Yuki isn't ready to step up and they can't buy themselves a Norris or someone else like that (they've already burnt Gasly and Albon).

There's a VERY good chance that this is just to push Yuki to the next level and test if he really is the pocket rocket he looks like by the end of his 3rd year at Red Bull.

In the meantime, if he can do well, DR might sell himself to an AMR or a Ferrari if the likes of Alonso was to retire, or if Sainz or Charles go for greener pastures.

Remember... new team incoming in 2026.

Also... the cynic in me agrees with one of the new YouTube podcasters... it makes drive to survive and red bull marketing happy.

Think about it... with Max so far in front the screen time is for who's coming in second so there's less air time showing red bull liveries and sponsors. 😂

This brings them some much needed PR.

Remember... they're trying to sell an energy drink. 😂

Well, there you go. Outperforming his team-mate, despite the Zhou-Ocon sandwich.

Also, 40 laps on the mediums?! Imagine if the hards weren't rubbish this weekend, and he'd pulled off a 1-stopper.

You can hear it in his radio comms - he's just calibrating.

Also, I love hearing the fire in Yuki's voice... that kid does not like being 2nd in his team. If nothing else, DR will push Yuki to come to his full potential.

Good to see Lando and Oscar given a decent car and deliver too! Seriously impressed by Piastri's driving this season.

Beyond mid

You were saying, OP?

P7 in the worst car on the grid.

DR3 never left... he was just giving Gunther a false sense of hope. 😂😂

Aussie Aussie Aussie!

Oh yes, score points in 1 race and he deserves the world. Watch him finish outside points in rest of the races.

AT is def not the worst car on the grid. Even a rookie - Liam Lawson scored points in it. 1 good race doesn’t do anything.

If you want to support an Aussie- go with Piastri- he’s awesome!