Can Daniel Ricciardo turn things around after all? After Spielberg, the Racing Bulls driver is optimistic and reacts to Helmut Marko’s recent comments
Daniel Ricciardo’s contract with Racing Bulls expires at the end of this Formula 1 season and the Australian has been under fire for some time due to poor performances. Most recently, Helmut Marko openly questioned his future with the team
“Ricciardo had a good race, a sprint race. But he is clearly behind Tsunoda. And Racing Bulls is still a junior team. So you have to think about what will happen in the future,” says the Red Bull motorsport consultant on Sky.
In Spielberg, the Red Bull motorsport consultant told Sky: “Both shareholders have made it clear that this is a junior team. The plan with Ricciardo was for him to regain his old form and then possibly make a comeback at Red Bull Racing. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened so far.”
“Now we have to take a close look at the situation and then make a decision. But as I said, it’s a junior team in terms of philosophy.”
Asked about Marko’s comments, Ricciardo says: “I haven’t actually seen them yet. I’m sure it’s not the worst thing he’s ever said.” However, he is aware that he has to step up his game for Marko to say anything else.
Ricciardo: Marko’s opinion can change quickly
“Yes, definitely. I’ve known Helmut for so long and at the end of the day he doesn’t care about personality. What he cares about is the stopwatch and the classification. He’s a racing driver and that’s all he really wants to see from us.”
“I know that can cause his opinion of me to change quickly. I think this weekend has helped. It’s a bit more consistent now, so I’ll just keep doing it. Hopefully he’ll be lying on a beach somewhere during the summer break saying Ricciardo’s still got it. “
Ricciardo finished ninth in the points at the Spielberg Grand Prix at the weekend, five places ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda. “I’ll probably have to watch it again, but I’m definitely more happy than sad,” said the Racing Bulls driver after the race.
“I think Haas obviously overtook us, but we weren’t fast enough and I also think Alpine was faster to stay with us. But the team helped with the right strategy. I just had to look in the rear-view mirrors and try not to mess up. It was a clean race. “
Ricciardo happy with himself three weeks in a row
All in all, Ricciardo sees an upward trend for himself. “I feel like I’ve got the best out of myself for three weeks in a row now,” says the Australian.
“Of course it’s hard to celebrate a 15th place in Barcelona, but I was actually very happy with my race. I’m still looking for a bit more perfection, but yes, I’ve left the paddock three weekends in a row now, and I can say I’m proud.”
As far as the latest updates to the car are concerned, he believes there are elements that the team is already comfortable with and others where there are still questions to be answered. “So there is still a bit of understanding to be gained, yes,” he sums up.
“But in seven days I think we have done a good job to come to Spielberg with a better package or a better understanding of it. I think Haas and Alpine were faster overall this weekend, so we need to find a bit more for Silverstone. “
