'Fundemental' VCARB chassis change: Riccardo finally feels 'Comfortable'

I definitely felt a lot better in China and yeah I mean it's let's say hopefully that's the start now of let's say the real start of my season," said Ricciardo in the Miami paddock.

"It was just that everything felt a bit more normal. I don't want to say effortless, we're all trying and nothing's going to come easy. Even if Max is winning as much as he is it's never effortless to put the work in and stuff but, it just certainly did come to me a little bit more naturally and a bit easier and the lap time was kind of more what I expected to see, so (there are) certainly some positives."

The eight-time Grand Prix winner's chassis was changed before China, and he felt a lot more at one with the car a fortnight ago in Shanghai, despite his unfortunate retirement after Lance Stroll forced him to retire from the race.

A rejuvenated Ricciardo

"The first four races for me were interesting. if these next four are very different then I will then confidently say something must have been up with that. (previous chassis). 

"We'll have updates. we have a little bit here as well this weekend so things will always keep coming that improve the lap time, but it's a lot of it comes down to feeling and being comfortable. there was honestly something that once it hit the track in China, I felt like I had a bit more control in obviously my hands, and ultimately then what I could do with the car. Whether or not that is a physical change, maybe something the chassis provided me with that just gave me a bit more feeling and predictability with what the car is going to do when I turn the wheel, so that was good. With set-up things, you're always trying to find a bit of comfort, but this was kind of like something fundamental."

Ricciardo will be hoping to score his first points of 2024 in the Sunshine State this weekend.