Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has reiterated his view that RB drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo aren’t quite cutting it on Sundays, branding the pair as “too slow” in race trim.
Following Red Bull’s decision to revamp the identity and management of its second F1 team, and with a closer technical collaboration with Red Bull Racing now in place, the energy drink company upgraded the Faenza-based squad’s ambitions.
But so far, neither Tsunoda nor Riccardo has managed to crack the top ten on race day, with the Aussie’s 13th place finish in Bahrain representing RB’s best result.
Marko recognized Tsunoda’s reasonably good one-lap pace – supported by the Japanese driver’s P9 performance in qualifying in Jeddah – but made clear that both drivers must raise their game on Sundays if they hope to contend for a seat with Red Bull Racing for 2025.
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"There's a lot at stake for [Tsunoda and Ricciardo]. Both might be hoping for a seat at Red Bull, and one should be well ahead of the other,” Marko told Sky Germany.
"So far Ricciardo is a bit behind. But let's put it this way: Tsunoda's qualifying speed is okay. But in the race, both are too slow."
Marko also suggested that a couple of points were there for the taking in the first two races of the season.
"I think one point would have been possible in each of the first two races," he said.
"It's very difficult to score points behind the top five [teams] and, when you have an opportunity, you can't afford to make mistakes. You have to test the decisions in the absolute right order."
While RB’s drivers linger in the thick of F1’s midfield, Sergio Perez – the man they hope to replace at RBR – has enjoyed a strong start to his 2024 campaign, the Mexican concluding F1’s opening two races right behind double race winner and teammate Max Verstappen.
"Sergio is in a very good position at the moment," recognized Marko. "He has delivered two very good races and he's second in the championship. The question of who should replace Perez doesn't really arise.
"But it's about the future. Perez is no longer the youngest, nor is Ricciardo. And if you then take other aspects into account, another driver could certainly be included in this process."
Marko’s observation appeared to allude to talented Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson who is itching to kick his F1 career into gear in earnest after his five-race stint with AlphaTauri last season following Ricciardo’s injury.
"He has to sit in the car first and prove himself,” commented Marko. “But what he showed in his [five] appearances [in 2023] was very promising."
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