Daniel Ricciardo promises to turn Formula One season around ahead of Japanese Grand Prix as Australian bids to kickstart his campaign to win Sergio Perez's Red Bull seat

Daniel Ricciardo has vowed to turn his season around after a torrid start to 2024 which has left him without a single point from the opening three races.

Heading into the season, the Australian was being touted as one of the leading contenders to take Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull for 2025. That switch would complete a remarkable return to the team for whom Ricciardo claimed all but one of his eight Grand Prix wins for between 2014 and 2018.

There was also a renewed sense of optimism for the RB driver given the appointment of Laurent Mekies as team principal saw the 34-year-old join forces once again with the man who oversaw the start of his F1 career at Red Bull’s sister team Toro Rosso (now RB) more than a decade ago.

But after being consistently out-performed by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who heads into this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka as the home favourite, so far this season, there have been suggestions that Ricciardo could be replaced at RB unless there is a marked improvement in performances over the coming races.

‘We changed a lot of things this year with the team,’ Ricciardo told fans at an event in Tokyo. ‘Laurent Mekies has been a big part of that change.

Daniel Ricciardo has promised to turn his Formula One season around

The Australian has failed to register a single point from the first three races of the season

‘Bringing in change to any environment can be very encouraging or beneficial because you have different ideas and perspectives.

‘It’s a little bit of fresh motivation, fresh energy but he also brings a lot of experience. He’s been in the sport a long time as well. When I first joined Toro Rosso more than 10 years ago Laurent was at the team, so we’ve already worked together.’

He added: ‘I feel very happy working alongside him and I just want now to get some points and get the team further up the grid.’