Red Bull boss Christian Horner has revealed that the team’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko was fed up with Daniel Ricciardo’s performance and wanted him out of RB seat as early as the Spanish GP in June.
The disclosure sheds light on the internal dynamics of one of Formula 1’s most successful teams and highlights the challenges Ricciardo faced during his tumultuous return to the sport.
Ricciardo, who made a comeback with Red Bull’s junior team VCARB (formerly known as AlphaTauri) had high hopes of re-establishing himself as a top-tier driver after a disappointing stint with McLaren. However, his performance throughout the season did not meet expectations.
Despite showing flashes of brilliance, particularly during the Miami Grand Prix and the Canadian Grand Prix, Ricciardo struggled with consistency and his inability to consistently outperform teammate Yuki Tsunoda ultimately led to his downfall.
Horner’s comments come following Ricciardo’s departure from VCARB after the Singapore Grand Prix, where he finished outside the points. The Australian driver managed to score points only four times in 26 races since his return.
During an appearance on the F1 Nation podcast, the Red Bull team principal elaborated on Helmut Marko’s early concerns regarding Ricciardo’s performance and was particularly dissatisfied after the Spanish GP where he felt that a change was necessary.
“I think it was the lack of consistency,” Horner said. “I mean he started the season roughly, then Miami was a weekend of two halves, the Friday and Saturday morning was fantastic, and it looked like the Daniel of old, defending against Ferraris, out-driving the car, but then Saturday afternoon and the Sunday were disastrous.
“Even around Barcelona, Helmut wanted him out of the car, there was already a lot of pressure on him there.”
The tension surrounding Ricciardo’s performance reached its peak when Jacques Villeneuve, a former world champion and now a commentator, publicly questioned whether the 31-year old deserved his place on the grid.
This criticism seemed to ignite something for Ricciardo’s performance, resulting in one of his best performances of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix where he qualified fifth and finished eighth, demonstrating that he still possessed the skill and determination that once made him one of F1’s brightest stars.
Despite the brief resurgence, Ricciardo could not maintain his momentum. Following his strong showing in Canada, he finished 15th in Spain and failed to score points in subsequent races leading up to his dismissal.
“By the time we got to Montreal, it was actually dear old Jacques Villeneuve who got him properly wound up by giving him a hard time,” Horner said.
“And it definitely fired him up, because the way he drove the car that weekend, he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and put together a very strong race weekend.
“So I did say [to Ricciardo] give Jacques a call every time every grand prix, for the rest of the year, because whatever he said, it definitely worked.”
Horner explained that he had worked hard to buy Daniel Ricciardo more time in the car to allow him to improve. He emphasized that all drivers are under immense pressure to perform and the Australian’s position was precarious due to both his and Perez’s inconsistent performances throughout the season.
“I’ve done my very best to buy him as much time in the car to allow him to deliver, so otherwise he would have been out of the car after Barcelona,” Horner added.
“All the drivers are under pressure to deliver but the reason that Daniel was in that car was to get himself back into a position to ultimately be there to pick up the pieces if Checo [Perez] didn’t deliver.
“And the problem was they both had issues with form at varying times. Checo started the season very well, very strongly and Daniel was struggling, and then as Checo lost form Daniel found a bit of form but it was never compelling enough to say, ‘okay we should switch the two drivers’.”
In a move that shocked many fans and analysts alike, Liam Lawson was announced as Ricciardo’s replacement for the remaining six races of the 2024 season.
Horner’s remarks also highlight an interesting dynamic within Red Bull Racing regarding driver performance expectations. The team has been known for its high standards; both drivers are expected not only to compete but also to challenge for podiums consistently.
With Sergio Perez also struggling at times during the season, it became increasingly difficult for Horner to justify keeping both drivers who were underperforming relative to Red Bull’s championship ambitions.
As Daniel Ricciardo exits F1 amid speculation about his future in motorsport, there are discussions about potential roles within Red Bull Racing beyond driving.
Marko hinted at opportunities for Ricciardo to remain connected with the team in an ambassadorial capacity, particularly given his popularity in markets like the United States. However, it remains uncertain whether he will pursue such roles or choose to retire from racing altogether.
