Daniel Ricciardo says AlphaTauri has understood the “fundamental” reasons for its struggles in Las Vegas and is optimistic the team will return to form in Abu Dhabi.
A flurry of late-season developments had enabled AlphaTauri to score points consecutively in each of the three rounds across the triple header in the Americas.
The Faenza squad’s haul of 16 points had elevated it off the foot of the Constructors’ Championship and into eighth place, only seven points behind Williams in seventh.
But AlphaTauri’s hopes of further reducing the deficit in Las Vegas last weekend were dealt a blow by both Ricciardo and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda struggling for grip.
Ricciardo asserts a deep delve into the analysis has explained why it encountered substantial trouble with getting sufficient heat into the tyres on the low-grip surface.
“We just missed a little bit,” Ricciardo reflected. “We took the weekend very seriously. No, there were no extracurricular reasons why we didn’t perform.
“Now, we did some analysis post-race, a little bit more today. I think we know, let’s say, the fundamental reasons or things that we maybe got wrong. But yeah, it was tricky.
“Obviously, it’s a new track for everyone, it’s a street circuit. It was really the asphalt and the temperatures. I think that was obviously something that was a bit of a challenge, to get on top of it and to get the tyres working and in the right window. And that’s ultimately where we struggled.
“So then, during the race, the race starts, the restarts, I felt like we were just sliding a little more than the others. And that put us on the back foot a lot.”
Amid Williams’ failure to capitalise on having both its cars starting inside the top six in Las Vegas, AlphaTauri still has a slim chance of overturning the gap in Abu Dhabi.
Asked therefore whether the Italian entry fancied its chances of a stronger showing at the Yas Marina Circuit, Ricciardo said: “Yeah, one does. I think it’s more conventional.
“Again, hopefully that speed we showed in the triple-header can be put on display again, in a more standard circuit. Yeah, so I’m confident.”
This weekend will also mark the final round for long-serving AlphaTauri Team Principal Franz Tost, who has been at the helm since Red Bull purchased the side back in 2005.
Ricciardo’s current stint with the team is the second time he has worked under Tost’s leadership, having driven under its original guise of Toro Rosso between 2012-13.
“I’d say tremendously,” he answered when asked how much the sport will miss Tost.
“I think for the team, he’s been everything, you know, obviously starting off in the Toro Rosso days, you know, that’s where I started, or my first full season in F1. You know, I remember quite vividly the first meeting I had in his office and, you know, I kind of bounced in with a smile. And I think he looked at me like… Tried to prepare me for what’s ahead.
“You know, it’s a serious sport and it’s a tough old world. So I think, yeah, he was very honest with me as well, but it made me… A little bit the same as with Helmut [Marko, Red Bull advisor], it kind of made me mature a little quicker and ultimately grow up and I think Franz has always been really involved.
“You know, he’s in every debrief, he’ll normally speak as well in debriefs and give some analysis or advice or anything he’s seen. He’s fully involved in it. And it’s his passion. It’s been everything that’s kind of given him drive for so many years.
“I hope he can enjoy putting his feet up a little bit next year. I’m not sure fully what that’s going to entail for him, but I really hope he’s able to enjoy some R&R, but yeah, a lot of good memories and actually really nice for me personally to come back to the team and be here for his farewell.”
