F1 News: RB Reveals Reason For Daniel Ricciardo Chassis Change for Chinese GP - Not 'Because Of His Issues'

RB sporting director Alan Permane has revealed the real reason for assigning Daniel Ricciardo a new chassis for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, making it clear that the decision didn't stem from the issues being faced by the Australian driver.

Key Takeaways:

• Daniel Ricciardo will receive a new chassis for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, but the decision is not due to any issues he's facing.
• Ricciardo's performance has been disappointing in the 2024 F1 season, with teammate Yuki Tsunoda consistently outperforming him.
• The new chassis is not expected to significantly impact the performance of Ricciardo's car, according to VCARB sporting director Alan Permane.

Unfortunately for Ricciardo, the 2024 season hasn't unfolded favorably. Anticipated to lead the team, he has instead found himself trailing behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda has consistently outperformed Ricciardo in all four races held thus far. In the Drivers' Championship standings, Tsunoda currently holds the 11th position with 7 points, while Ricciardo lags behind in 17th place with 0 points to his name

Revealing the meaning of the chassis in the regulations, which is nothing but a "survival cell",

Permane told the media during the Japanese GP weekend:

“It’s certainly not something we want to be hopping the drivers in and out of."

He added that the chassis is there to “mount the front suspension on, to mount the engine off, and to keep the driver safe.

“It’s a survival cell – it’s what it’s known as in the regulations.”

Permane emphasized that the new chassis would not impact the performance of the VCARB 01 F1 car, a perspective contrasting with Ricciardo's previous statements about the significance of chassis changes in influencing performance. Permane added:

“The reason I say it’s ever so unlikely is because it really is. It’s not a performance differentiator.

“It’s a happy accident that we have one coming, and it doesn’t make sense to give it to Yuki [Tsunoda] – it makes sense to give it to Daniel, but we’re not bringing a new chassis because of his issues. Let me be clear about that, it’s just that it all fits together.”

With a new chassis installed in his VCARB 01 for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, all eyes are on Ricciardo to see if this change can turn the tide in his favor. The hope is that it will not only enhance his performance but also potentially position him as a contender for a future Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen, pending a notable improvement and points on the scoreboard.