Yuki Tsunoda's Triumph and Ricciardo's Redemption: The Emotional Rollercoaster at Monaco

Yuki Tsunoda was over the moon to secure his first-ever points finish in the iconic streets of Monaco. Sunday’s result not only marked a significant milestone for the young Japanese driver but also served as a testament to his growing consistency as he aims to solidify his place in the Formula 1 lineup.

Starting from P8, Tsunoda maintained his composure, managing his pace and tires impeccably throughout the event to finish in the same position. While he expressed some frustration at not being able to push harder, the strategic decision to conserve his tires paid off, leading to a very satisfying conclusion for the 24-year-old. “It’s good that we scored points again,” said Tsunoda post-race. “We deserved these points. It was all about fine-tuning, finding a balance between my driving and our strategy,” he added.

The result comes at a crucial juncture for Tsunoda, who is yet to finalize his plans for 2025. With several teams still undecided about their driver line-ups, his ability to score points consistently could make all the difference. “Yeah, definitely,” Tsunoda responded when asked about the importance of his consistent performances. “It’s very important that we keep scoring points, and I think also the team enables me to bring the confidence straight away in FP1, having a good pace already from practice.”

Ricciardo's Struggle and Optimism

On the other side of the garage, Daniel Ricciardo faced a more challenging race. The Australian found himself stuck behind Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, eventually finishing where he started in P12. “It’s hard – if you don’t qualify in the points, it’s definitely hard to make it happen,” Ricciardo admitted. “The first start was actually one of our few very good starts this year, but it kind of put me in a position I didn’t really want to be!”

Ricciardo's race was characterized by moments of momentum quickly lost. “I had quite a lot of momentum, and there was a little bit of space behind [Pierre] Gasly. I went a bit to the left, and obviously, it narrows in at Turn 1, so I had to come out of it, then that allowed Stroll to carry more momentum on the inside, so he got me on the first one.”

The monotony of following the Astons persisted for much of the Grand Prix, but Ricciardo remained determined. “I looked at both Astons for really the whole race… I had two laps the whole race in clear air where I could push a little bit – they were enjoyable,” he recalled. Although the race was not up to his expectations, Ricciardo is already looking ahead to the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix. “Not the Monaco I wanted for sure, but I’m going to pick myself up and get back on it. Montreal’s a good track, I enjoy it, so [I’ll] try and get this thing going a little better than it has,” he declared.

Looking Ahead

While Tsunoda celebrates his milestone, Ricciardo battles with personal frustration. “There’s a lot of positives with seeing the team score points with Tsunoda, but there's also personal frustration and disappointment because it obviously can be done and Yuki’s got points the last few races,” Ricciardo reflected. “I think that’s where I’m just going to pick myself up and find what it is that I’m not quite showing consistently. When I do show it, it’s obviously there. But, yeah, it has to come every weekend, otherwise, that’s no good. We’ll try and pick it up in Montreal.”

As Formula 1 fans, we can look forward to the continuing journeys of these two dynamic drivers. Will Tsunoda’s newfound consistency secure him a place next season? Can Ricciardo overcome his hurdles and showcase his true potential once more? The upcoming races promise thrilling action as each driver strives to prove their mettle on the world’s most prestigious motorsport stage.