The Chinese Grand Prix provided another fascinating insight into the Formula 1 pecking order right now.
It’s going to be quite a long time until someone knocks Max Verstappen off his perch, but beneath him, there’s plenty to fight for.
Speaking on The Chequered Flag Podcast, pundit and racing driver Sam Bird was examining the fortunes of one team in particular.
Every race is a battle between the bottom five teams to try and finish in the top ten.
More often than not, they’ve required Lance Stroll to face issues to try and sneak into 10 place and earn that precious point.
The Canadian’s slow reaction to a concertina after the first safety car saw him have to pit for a new front wing and take a ten-second penalty.
Nico Hulkenberg was the man who once again benefitted, securing his third top-ten finish in the last four races.
Daniel Ricciardo was the unlucky driver that Stroll drove into, but Bird believes the RB proved this weekend that he’s still world-class.
The Australian has eight race wins to his name but is still yet to score a point in 2024.
He would have been in the running in Shanghai had Stroll not destroyed his diffuser due to a momentary lapse in concentration.
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Sam Bird believes RB star Daniel Ricciardo is ‘world-class’
It’s safe to say this season hasn’t gone to plan for Daniel Ricciardo.
After admitting his dream was to return to the sister Red Bull team, his future in Formula 1 altogether has recently been questioned.
With Liam Lawson waiting for his opportunity within the Red Bull family, that pressure isn’t suddenly going to go away.
But in China, Ricciardo finally got the better of teammate Yuki Tsunoda who had two nightmare qualifying sessions.
The pair were much more closely matched during the race although they both retired within a couple of laps of each other.
Tsunoda couldn’t have done much more to fight fairly with Kevin Magnussen, but a small mistake from the Dane ended his race.
Ricciardo had to retire a few laps later due to the damage caused by Stroll, but the RB driver is still ‘world-class’ according to Bird even if he didn’t secure a much-needed top-ten finish.
Daniel Ricciardo’s bad luck continues
After the race, Damon Hill wondered what Ricciardo had done to deserve so much misfortune this year.
Sam Bird had similar thoughts and speaking about his future with the team, he said: “Honestly, I don’t know, I haven’t got my ear to the ground at that team to know these things.
“Daniel [Ricciardo] is a world-class racing driver. Always has been and until he decides to hang up his helmet, always will be.
“It has been a struggle this season, but I don’t think you can judge him on the last four or five races.
“Yeah, there’s been some difficulties, he’s had a chassis change for this race and there has been some improvement.
“I think [Yuki] Tsunoda’s had a particularly weak race this weekend. I wouldn’t say Daniel has been superb this weekend, but I think he needs to be given the full season, for sure and then they can make up their minds.
“It’s been a tough start to 2024 for Daniel and I hope that he and his team can improve and score some valuable points.”
The question over whether Ricciardo is still world-class will rumble on but right now Visa Cash App RB just need him to score points.
There was nothing more he could have done in China, the collision was completely out of his control.
Matching and beating Tsunoda over the next few races has to be the goal for Ricciardo and if he can consistently do that then points will inevitably follow.
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