In a surprising turn of events, Helmut Marko has taken a stance in defense of Red Bull’s decision to part ways with Daniel Ricciardo.
According to Marko, the Australian driver had lost his edge, claiming he was no longer the daring competitor he once was on the racetrack.
Ricciardo’s Rocky Road
Ricciardo’s exit came on the heels of the Singapore Grand Prix, with Marko expressing concerns that the 35-year-old driver had lost the fierce competitiveness that characterized his earlier years in Formula One.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t Ricciardo’s first departure from Red Bull; he made a surprise move to Renault in 2018 and later joined McLaren four years down the line.
Following a lackluster stint with the British team, Ricciardo’s contract was mutually terminated.
However, he found himself back in the F1 mix when Red Bull offered him a lifeline, allowing him to return as their reserve driver.
He eventually took over Nyck de Vries’ seat at AlphaTauri for the 2023 season.
Mixed Results at AlphaTauri
During his time with AlphaTauri, Ricciardo’s best performance came at the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix, where he finished seventh.
Marko pointed out that he only saw two noteworthy performances from Ricciardo that merited his return.
He lamented that Ricciardo was no longer the same driver who was once known for his bold overtaking maneuvers and last-minute braking.
In an article for SpeedWeek, Marko explained, “Daniel Ricciardo’s departure was only announced after the race weekend in Singapore for compelling reasons relating to commercial agreements.”
He continued, “He himself was informed in good time and, to put it in his own words, he is at peace with himself. I also think that the fastest race lap he set was a worthy farewell performance.”
The Shift in Focus
Marko highlighted that Ricciardo was given a second chance that few would have afforded him, with the understanding that a return to Red Bull Racing was possible if he met performance expectations.
Yet, despite some glimmers of potential, such as an eighth-place finish in Canada and a fourth in the Miami sprint race, Marko felt that overall performance was lacking.
He stated, “The necessary performance only flashed up twice… but apart from that, the speed wasn’t there and the consistency wasn’t there either.”
This inconsistency ultimately led to Ricciardo’s downfall, as the qualities that made him famous seemed to fade away.
A New Chapter for Ricciardo
With Ricciardo out of the picture, 22-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson has stepped into his place for the rest of the season.
In an emotional Instagram post, Ricciardo reflected on his 14-year career, saying, “I’ve loved this sport my whole life.
It’s wild and wonderful and been a journey. To the teams and individuals that have played their part, thank you.
To the fans who love the sport sometimes more than me, thank you.”
A Warning to Perez
Meanwhile, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has issued a warning to Sergio Perez, noting that Marko had wanted to drop Ricciardo since the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Horner elaborated, “I think it was the lack of consistency… Miami was a weekend of two halves. Friday and Saturday morning was fantastic, but then Saturday afternoon and Sunday were disastrous.”
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how both Ricciardo and Red Bull adapt to these changes and what the future holds for them in the world of Formula One.
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