Ricciardo: RB ‘in a better place’ after addressing tensions

Daniel Ricciardo says prompt action by RB’s management after tensions flared with Yuki Tsunoda at the Bahrain GP has left the Faenza-based outfit “in a better place”.

The high-strung Japanese driver lost his cool in the closing stages of last weekend’s race when he was ordered to let Ricciardo past to allow the Aussie an opportunity to chase down Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.

Tsunoda reluctantly – and belatedly – agreed to the switch, but Ricciardo was ultimately unable to overhaul Magnussen, the RB pair ultimately crossing the checkered flag respectively P13 and P14.

On the cool down lap, a visibly frustrated Tsunoda locked up to overtake Riccardo before swerving towards his teammate.

Recognizing the potential for a further escalation, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies swiftly intervened. He brought the drivers together for an immediate debrief, facilitating an open and honest discussion about the incident.

• Read also: Bayer: Ricciardo/Tsunoda ‘mess’ avoidable with alternate strategy

"What happened at the end of the race, yes, it wasn't great,” Ricciardo said in Jeddah on Wednesday.

“But actually then two hours later, how we walked out of that meeting, I think actually that put the team in a better place than it was even Saturday morning.

"I think the race situation is something that obviously kind of happened, drivers never like team orders. So a driver maybe doesn't react straight away, like it's not the first time that's ever happened. So I think that was all pretty clear.

“I think it was important for us to talk about that, but then also the in-lap, just to kind of be clear that even if it's heat of the moment, these things can have bigger consequences.

“So we talked, personally, privately, doors closed, very openly, transparently. So it was the right thing for us to do. And we left Saturday night, feeling like it's done.”

Ricciardo suggested that last weekend’s run-in was the first instance of tensions flaring between Tsunoda and himself.

"We only had a few races, but I think it was all pretty smooth last year,” he said

“I say last year as if 'Okay, well, this year, there's going to be problems.' Obviously, there was that little thing on the weekend.

“But I think if we didn't address it, and he kind of stomped off and left the track and whatever, then okay, you'd say, alright, this is an issue.

“But I think we were both very willing to sit in a room together and just talk it through. So I think that was important.”

Nevertheless, the 34-year-old admitted that Tsunoda’s aggressive behaviour on the in-lap at the end of the race surprised him.

"It did, and that's why obviously I came on the radio,” he said. “And yeah, I was like, ‘Alright, what the hell's going on here?’ I said a few things, but I tried to also stop myself, because I know everything gets broadcast!

“And I knew it was something that we would discuss once the helmets are off, and maybe the heart rates come down a little.

“But I think the team handled it really well after the race, in terms of getting us together, making sure that nothing was left on the table.

“We left that room feeling like there was no more any sides or feelings of like, I got hard done by, or there's a bit of animosity, like none of that.

“So yeah, it's also race one, so you can't have any of this. So I think the team handled us very well after it."

If anything, Ricciardo believes that the clash and its aftermath provided a good test of RB’s leadership for Mekies and CEO Peter Bayer.

“Honestly, I was curious to see how it was going be dealt with,” he said. "Because it's one of those ones where as race car drivers we're stubborn. And sometimes like, 'Ah, screw this, I'm just walking away, and they'll deal with it.'

“But I think the fact that we got brought into a room and just talked about it, and it was very calm, it was very composed, it was no pointing fingers. It was just, let's talk about this.

“So we know that when we leave this room, we feel a lot better about it and know that we go to Saudi with absolutely no hangover or whatever from this little incident. So that was good.

“Obviously, I knew we'd get asked questions about it. But honestly, since Saturday night, we haven't talked any more about it.”

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