Christian Horner reveals that Helmut Marko wanted Daniel Ricciardo out of the RB seat after the Spanish GP due to his inconsistent performances. Ricciardo’s replacement by Liam Lawson concludes a successful but troubled stint at Red Bull, as Horner elaborates on the internal pressures influencing these decisions.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has disclosed that Helmut Marko wanted Daniel Ricciardo out of the RB seat following the Spanish Grand Prix. Ricciardo’s position with Red Bull has now been concluded as he is replaced by Liam Lawson for the rest of the season, marking the end of an impressive career in which he secured eight Grand Prix victories for Red Bull and McLaren. Horner mentioned that Ricciardo struggled with consistency throughout the season, which affected Marko’s patience. Following an inconsistent performance, particularly noted during the Miami GP where he excelled initially but faltered later, Marko’s dissatisfaction culminated after Barcelona. Horner stated, “By the time we got to Montreal… Jacques Villeneuve got him properly wound up by giving him a hard time, and it definitely fired him up.” Ultimately, Ricciardo was unable to demonstrate the performance necessary to maintain his spot, as there was ongoing debate about who could replace Sergio Perez. Despite attempts by Horner to keep Ricciardo in contention, the driver couldn’t establish a compelling case for a swap with Perez, who also struggled at times. Horner expressed that bringing Lawson into racing gives the team essential insights as they contemplate potential future driver line-ups. He highlighted the need for clarity regarding the team’s direction with just six races remaining in the season.
The article discusses the leadership decisions at Red Bull Racing concerning Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career, specifically after the Spanish Grand Prix. Helmut Marko’s views and influence on driver selections, combined with performance assessments of Ricciardo and Sergio Perez, inform the team’s strategic driver changes. This context is crucial to understanding the competitive pressures in F1 and the impact on team dynamics.
Christian Horner’s revelations highlight the internal challenges at Red Bull Racing concerning driver performance and lineup decisions. Daniel Ricciardo’s exit follows a season marked by inconsistency, and his replacement by Liam Lawson suggests a pivot in the team’s strategic planning as they prepare for the future. Red Bull’s situation underscores the competitive nature of F1, where performance directly influences career longevity.
Original Source: www.autosport.com