While all around him have lost or are fast losing confidence in Daniel Ricciardo turning around his poor form, but the Australian VCARB Formula1 driver believes he is on the through of a breakthrough ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
As McLaren did at the end of 2022, most have lost faith in Ricciardo, with Johnny Herbert declaring ahead of Suzuka: "The last chance saloon has gone for Ricciardo."
Even Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, in charge of driver matters for the F1 World Champs, is puzzled by the fact that 23-year-old Yuki Tsunoda is faster than 34-year-old Ricciardo. Word has it Dan has a couple of GP weekends to prove he is more worthy of the seat than highly rated Liam Lawson, waiting in the wings.
Despite the pressure Ricciardo remains in denial and aims to prove just about everyone wrong, he told reporters in Japan on Thursday: "It's funny because, on paper, it hasn't been good - and I know as well that the results haven't been what I wanted. But personally, the confidence and the happiness and all of that is really unchanged.
"It's really just a matter now of getting a result and kind of putting a few things to rest. The place I'm in personally, I feel really good and that's why it's probably been a little bit weird to comprehend why the result hasn't happened yet."
Dan: I certainly feel I can make a good result happen
"It's been three races, but I know that I don't need to change anything, it'll come," insisted Ricciardo. "It's just a little bit here and there. Whatever is maybe just missing at the moment will click, and I think it's one weekend away from that.
"Even in Melbourne where I was disappointed on paper with the weekend, of course, and not getting points [for P12], but when we kind of analyse the race, it wasn't as sad as it probably looked.
"We had good race pace, there are some good things that we're talking about, and we just need to put it together now. And that I will do. I said I would in Melbourne - and I fell short. But I will do it this weekend.
"It's always nice to get home for a few days and come here refreshed. Obviously, I can't predict what's going to happen this weekend but, standing here now, I certainly feel I can make a good result happen," insisted Ricciardo.
Beating a driver of Tsunoda's level should have been a mere formality for eight-time Grand Prix winner Ricciardo, who shamelessly coveted Sergio Perez's seat and a return to be Max Verstappen's teammate.
This after the Aussie's six years anonymous years in F1 that ensued after he departed RBR to chase the money offered by Renault. In contrast, Verstappen has gone on to win 48 GPs and three world titles since then. No contest springs to mind.
(Reporting by Agnes Carlier)
Big Question: What next for Daniel Ricciardo?
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