2018 Daniel Ricciardo did not keep his handshake deal with Dietrich Mateschitz – Helmut Marko: “That was the turning point in his career”
Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career is likely over with his sacking as a Red Bull racing driver. By the end of 2018, he had won seven Grands Prix with Red Bull Racing. After that, only one, in Monza in 2021, under lucky circumstances.
The decision to leave Red Bull at the end of 2018 was “the turning point in his career.” Because neither at Renault (2019/20) nor at McLaren (2021/22) could Ricciardo build on his previous performances and successes.
“I don’t know what exactly happened. If we knew that, we would have helped him,” regrets Marko. But the old strengths, such as late braking and the associated aggressive overtaking and sheer speed, never came back after 2018. ‘He no longer had that killer instinct,’ says the Red Bull motorsport consultant.
Which is why Red Bull has now pulled the rip cord and replaced Ricciardo in the Racing Bulls’ main cockpit with immediate effect with Liam Lawson. The 22-year-old New Zealander will be Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate at the next Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
June 2018: Ricciardo’s broken handshake
What many do not know: When Ricciardo left the Red Bull family at the end of 2018, he left scorched earth with “head honcho” Dietrich Mateschitz. Because Ricciardo had confirmed by handshake at a personal meeting with Marko in Graz and Mateschitz in Salzburg at the end of June that he would extend his contract and also drive for Red Bull Racing in 2019.
But then everything changed, and the story of the long-haul flight to America, during which he made the decision to break his word and accept an offer from Renault after all, is well documented.
Marko recalls: “There was an event at the main square in Graz. And afterwards, we sat down together and actually came to an agreement. Sealed with a handshake. He then went to Salzburg and did the same with Dietrich Mateschitz.“
”But he had certain reservations about the Honda engine, which would have come to us, and apparently listened more to the sweet talk of Renault and Cyril Abiteboul,” says Marko, confirming that Mateschitz’s change of heart was not at all approved of: “He attached great importance to keeping one’s word when you shake on a deal.”
Ricciardo: What’s next?
But now the focus is on the future. Marko admits that Red Bull would be “interested” in continuing the collaboration with Ricciardo in some other form. For example, as a Red Bull ambassador, because “he is one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers, especially in the USA.”
However, Ricciardo has not yet accepted the offer, but, according to Marko, wants “time to consider his entire future”. The 81-year-old Austrian finds it hard to imagine that Ricciardo “will enter any other racing category. I don’t think so. And on the other hand, if he is no longer actively racing, whether he even wants these PR activities.”
The complete video with further statements from Helmut Marko and Formula 1 expert Marc Surer about the sacking and the career of Daniel Ricciardo (12 minutes) is now available on the YouTube channel of Formel1.de. Subscribe to the channel for free now and don’t miss the publication of the full interview with Helmut Marko!