Ricciardo disagrees with his team: 'I know there was something wrong there'

Daniel Ricciardo could not stop smiling after securing fourth place during Saturday's Sprint Race in Miami. The Australian driver believes the change in chassis have made all the difference to his performance since Shanghai, though his team don't neccessarily agree. Nevertheless, with his three-grid place penalty, he will start last for Sunday's Grand Prix. 

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 following the sprint race, Ricciardo said: 'Yeah, it's a happy feeling, it's a powerful feeling. Also to back up yesterday, qualifying was obviously great, but to back it up over the course of a sprint race, that's even more satisfying. So it feels very good, and nice to also keep a few people quiet.'

The start of the season was poor for the Australian driver, with him failing to score points in the opening five races, having not finished in either Japan or China. There were rumours that he could also have been replaced by reserve driver Liam Lawson. In Saturday's sprint, the Visa Cash App RB driver scored his first points of the season (five). 

What changed for Ricciardo?

Fundamentally, Ricciardo believes the changes to the chassis have made all the difference, even if the team does not think so: "I think there's two parts to it. We changed chassis in China. Immediately, I honestly felt something. I had more feeling, a bit more confidence in what the car was going to give me. It's not that it was far off, but there was just something missing compared to Yuki at the start of the year," he said. 

"I could just feel like I wasn't able to do what he was able to do in most, you know, a lot of the corners. So I knew there was something there. So I think there really was something with the chassis. Maybe the team still doesn't think so, but I do. And the upgrade helped us in the high speed."

During Saturday's sprint race, the Australian managed to hold off both Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, and McLaren's Oscar Piastri. His team-mate, Yuki Tsunoda, finished eigth, securing one point for the team - it was also the first time the team has scored double points this season.