Alan Jones now believes 34-year-old driver’s ‘best days’ are already behind him

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Former Formula 1 world champion Alan Jones has suggested that Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo’s best days are behind him.

The Australian has had a tough time in the season’s first two races with teammate Yuki Tsunoda looking the faster of the two drivers.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Jones worried that Ricciardo may not reach his peak again in the sport.

Jones thinks Ricciardo’s best days in Formula 1 are behind him

There were such high hopes and expectations for Daniel Ricciardo heading into the 2024 F1 season.

Ted Kravitz backed him to challenge for several podiums this year but he looks a long way off that level right now.

That’s not all his fault, the RB car doesn’t appear to be as quick during the races as was expected from their performances in testing.

However, Ricciardo has been out-qualified twice by his teammate already which doesn’t bode well.

His dream is to finish his career with Red Bull but right now he might be fighting to stay on the grid altogether for 2025.

Alan Jones is worried that Ricciardo may not be able to reach his best level in Formula 1 again.

He’s got an important race in front of his home crowd coming up although he’s never performed particularly well in Melbourne.

That needs to change quickly otherwise reserve driver Liam Lawson might be preparing to return to F1 sooner rather than later.

Ricciardo under pressure after tough start

Speaking about his fellow countryman, Jones said: “I hate to say it, but I think we have seen the best days [from Daniel Ricciardo].

“He has had his bum in a few decent cars, irrespective of what people say.

“The Alpine or the McLaren, the car that he is in right now … at the end of the day he has got to start beating his teammate for a start.

“I would love him to become super competitive and be up there challenging in the points, but I just think that maybe a couple of things have got to change before we see that.”

Jones’s critique of Ricciardo has been echoed by Helmut Marko who has told him he needs to improve to continue to compete in Formula 1.

This is a far cry from a few months ago when everyone was expecting the 34-year-old to put Sergio Perez under pressure for his place on the grid.

Instead, he might be fighting just to stay in the sport and Ollie Bearman’s debut for Ferrari has shown that the young drivers currently looking for a seat in F1 are more than ready to step up if called upon.