Daniel Ricciardo is an important support for AlphaTauri: CEO Peter Bayer speaks of a “jack of all trades” for the team – and for Tsunoda
Daniel Ricciardo is more than just a driver for AlphaTauri, but an important support for the whole team. “Daniel Ricciardo is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades for us,” confirms AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer. “Because he helps us with the set-up, but he also helps us with Yuki, because he talks to him a lot. “
“And I think a lot will be possible with this pairing,” the Austrian told Sky. The race in Mexico, when Ricciardo finished seventh and Yuki Tsunoda was also in a promising position until the collision with Oscar Piastri (McLaren), was an important liberating blow for AlphaTauri.
“We really understood our car for the first time in Mexico,” says Bayer happily. “We now know what the upgrades bring and we worked a lot with Daniel in terms of set-up, which was extremely important. “
Mexico: A “mega boost” for AlphaTauri
“We’ve been developing the car all year, working flat out. We’re still running three shifts at the factory in Italy,” confirms Bayer, who is delighted with Ricciardo’s strong points finish: “So, of course, that was a mega boost for us because it worked, because we had the speed there in Mexico too.”
“But also positive overall, because Yuki feels comfortable with the car, with the set-up changes that Daniel brings,” says the AlphaTauri CEO, pleased with the important support from the Australian. However, it is now up to the Japanese driver to use the good basis to achieve a strong result.
In Austin, Tsunoda already made a good impression when he not only finished eighth in the race, but also grabbed the extra point for the fastest lap. In Mexico, the Japanese driver, who is known for his outbursts of anger, was again too impetuous in his duel with the competition. “It was a shame about Yuki, because the team could have done a lot better,” said Bayer.
“But yes, we’ll take it,” said the Austrian, who spoke of “mega important points” for AlphaTauri, which saw the team improve from tenth to eighth place in the constructors’ championship. “Now, of course, we will do everything we can here to defend that and keep fighting forward. “
“An impetuous, unreasonable maneuver “
Nonetheless, Tsunoda’s failed overtaking attempt could still prove costly for AlphaTauri. “I think it’s simply a lack of experience, although he’s actually been driving long enough now that he should know,” suspects Bayer.
“His race engineer actually kept telling him, take your time, take your time, you have the pace, take your time,” reveals the AlphaTauri CEO. “At some point he got carried away, I’ll say that now, and then he made the mistake.”
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko is also annoyed by this. “That was annoying. AlphaTauri was surprisingly strong. Tsunoda was also great,” says the Austrian on Sky. “And then, instead of overtaking sensibly, it was an impetuous, unreasonable maneuver. “
