34-year-old Daniel Ricciardo finds himself at another pivotal juncture in Formula 1, facing pressure to improve his performance within the Red Bull junior team. This challenge arises amidst speculation surrounding Christian Horner’s involvement in Ricciardo’s career resurgence strategy post-McLaren, an initiative now overshadowed by the well-known scandal and power struggle.
“Please understand that I concentrate on sport here,” Dr. Helmut Marko maintains to Speed Week, opting to steer clear of discussions beyond the track, “I continue not to comment on other things.”
The 34-year-old Australian has acknowledged his own struggles throughout the 2024 season so far, a crucial period considering Sergio Perez’s expiring contract and his newfound commendation from Marko. “Great race,” Marko praised Perez, particularly noting his overtaking of Charles Leclerc and subsequent performance in Saudi Arabia. “He overtook (Charles) Leclerc relatively quickly and then gained those five seconds, actually setting the same times as Max after that. We are very satisfied.”
Yet, Ricciardo’s efforts have left Marko wanting more. “There’s a lot at stake this season for both Yuki (Tsunoda) and Daniel,” he expressed. Highlighting Tsunoda’s qualifying prowess, Marko pointed out the need for Ricciardo to elevate his game soon. “Yuki’s qualifying performance was very good, but Ricciardo has to come up with something soon. At least Tsunoda is very good in qualifying. Then he is at the top of the points in the first stint, only to fall further and further behind after that. Whether the drivers are putting too much strain on the tyres or there are other reasons is what we need to find out.”
Ricciardo, for his part, remains hopeful but also mindful, “I know we can be a lot better if we get the car under control. Everything just hasn’t worked 100 percent.”
Amidst this backdrop, Marko is considering the much-younger rookie Liam Lawson for a future role, impressed by his substitute performances in 2023. “Sure, today the boys are all well prepared when they move up. But only if someone is really good can they achieve such achievements right from the start,” Marko observed, signaling high expectations for Lawson’s potential integration into F1.
Christijan Albers, a former F1 driver, concurs with the anticipation of Lawson’s ascendancy, “As a newcomer, (Oliver) Bearman can easily end up high on the lists. But Liam Lawson is still at the very top because he simply belongs in Formula 1 now. But Bearman is not far behind.”
The speculation extends to Tsunoda, rumored to be on Aston Martin’s radar, with Albers affirming his performance superiority over Ricciardo, “Last weekend, he did better than Daniel Ricciardo once again. I see that Tsunoda is still very underestimated, and that is unfair.”
Veteran journalist Roger Benoit reflects on Ricciardo’s current standing, “The eight-time GP winner Ricciardo looks old against Tsunoda so far,” capturing the essence of Ricciardo’s challenge to redefine and maintain his place in the high-stakes environment of Formula 1.
GMM
