Yuki Tsunoda’s performance is suddenly catching the eyes of many, including Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s formidable F1 consultant, who lauded his exceptional performance in Melbourne on Servus TV. “That was a fantastic performance,” Marko declared. “He was there the whole time and he didn’t make any mistakes. The first five teams are so strong that it’s quite an achievement if you manage to be ahead of them.” This commendation follows Tsunoda’s impressive qualification, securing eighth place, significantly ahead of his RB teammate Daniel Ricciardo by ten positions.
Amidst this, Daniel Ricciardo’s future within the sport seems increasingly uncertain. Marko’s recent remarks underscore the growing belief that Ricciardo, along with teammate Sergio Perez, might not be viewed as the long-term pillars for Red Bull Racing, given both are 34 years old. In light of this, the 23-year-old Japanese driver, Tsunoda, harbours ambitions of climbing the ranks to Red Bull’s top team. “Hopefully they will consider me,” he expressed in Melbourne, keen to demonstrate his mettle not only to Red Bull but to all teams in the paddock. “I want to show my value as a driver, also for the other teams. I want to show that I am a real fighter.”
Contrastingly, Ricciardo’s fortunes appear to be waning, particularly after a lackluster performance at his home Grand Prix, further shadowed by Tsunoda’s brilliance. Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde voiced concerns on Viaplay, suggesting, “I think the pressure is too much for him again. Somehow he can’t handle it anymore. I don’t think he will even make it to the end of the season if he continues like this.” Ricciardo himself acknowledged his performance gap, admitting, “I can tell you that I couldn’t have improved by seven tenths,” when comparing his times to Tsunoda’s.
This leaves Ricciardo’s prospects in F1, especially his chances of partnering with Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, in jeopardy. Former F1 driver David Brabham questioned Ricciardo’s ability to compete within the smaller eam, let alone against Verstappen, remarking to the Australian broadcaster Nine, “How’s he going to compete with Verstappen if he can’t get on top of Tsunoda in the same team?” This sentiment reflects a growing skepticism within the Red Bull camp and beyond regarding Ricciardo’s future contributions.
When confronted with the possibility of his Formula 1 career drawing to a close, potentially even before the season’s end, Ricciardo remained adamant about his passion for the sport. “I know for sure it’s Formula 1 or nothing,” he stated, showing little interest in exploring other racing series at this juncture. “If we talk about other championships, then for now I’d rather remain just a fan.”
GMM
