Daniel Ricciardo was outpaced by Yuki Tsunoda in terms of speed in a single lap in the first two races of the season. The Red Bull Racing consultant expressed his lack of confidence in the performance of the 34-year-old Australian after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. He emphasized the need for improvement in the near future to secure Ricciardo’s future in the team, especially in relation to his teammate at VisaCashApp RB.
During the opening weekend in Bahrain, Yuki Tsunoda showcased his speed by qualifying a tenth of a second faster. However, following controversial team orders, he ended up behind Daniel Ricciardo. The following week, Tsunoda once again outperformed his teammate during Friday practices. He secured ninth place in qualifying, while Ricciardo had to settle for 14th. The advantage that the young Japanese driver has over the experienced Ricciardo is not well received by Helmut Marko.
Marko acknowledged Yuki’s impressive qualifying performance and stressed that Ricciardo needs to up his game. The Bahrain and Jeddah races served as a learning experience for Ricciardo, who needs to improve in several areas. Marko highlighted the importance of determining whether the team’s difficulties are due to tire degradation or other factors.
Daniel Ricciardo revealed that his spin at the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a result of his growing frustration. The Red Bull driver had a disappointing race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, worsened by an extended pit stop during the safety car period caused by Lance Stroll’s accident. Additionally, the blocking strategy adopted by the Haas F1 team also hindered Ricciardo.
Ricciardo clarified that he did not intend to make excuses for his spin, as it was a result of his own frustration. Despite remaining optimistic, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the results, as the Formula 1 community expects more from him. Ricciardo aspires to a promotion to Red Bull, the parent company of RB Visa Cash App, and recognizes the need to consistently secure a good position on the track and contribute more points to the team to achieve his dreams.
