Daniel Ricciardo has savoured his first points of the Formula 1 season, saying it is good to silence some of his doubters. 

The RB driver, who started the campaign tipped for a return to champions Red Bull next year but has struggled to deliver, started and finished fourth in the Miami sprint race for five points.

Fourth, albeit in a 100km race without pit stops, was the Australian's highest placing in any format since 2021 when he was at McLaren.

"Every big result always feels like it's a needed one. It's a happy feeling, it's a powerful feeling," Ricciardo told broadcaster Sky Sports.

"Also to back up yesterday, [sprint] 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."

Ricciardo said every lap he could defend his position, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz fifth, felt like a pat on the back.

He also credited a change of chassis at the previous race in China for giving him back some confidence in the car.

"Immediately I honestly felt something. I felt like more feeling, a bit more confidence in what the car was going to give me," he added.

"It's not that it was far off but there was just something missing.