Daniel Ricciardo has explained how RB sat both he and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda down following an on-track clash at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
In the final moments of the race, the team issued orders for Tsunoda to yield to Ricciardo, who had a tire advantage towards the finish line.
This decision sparked a strong reaction from the Japanese driver, who expressed his anger both over the radio and after the race, nearly colliding with Ricciardo during the cool-down lap.
As a result, Ricciardo criticized his teammate, labeling him as “immature,” while Tsunoda initially claimed to be unaware of the reason behind the team’s request before later admitting that it had been discussed before the race.
Drivers typically do not appreciate team orders,” Ricciardo stated.
“Perhaps a driver may not immediately react. It’s not uncommon for that to occur. Therefore, I believe that was all quite evident.
“It was crucial for us to address that, as well as the in-lap, to emphasize that, even in the heat of the moment, such actions can lead to significant repercussions.
We had a personal, private conversation with closed doors, being very open and transparent. When we left on Saturday night, it felt like everything was resolved.
The conflict arose when the two RB drivers expressed their desire to join Red Bull Racing in 2025.
This not only created a rift between them but also occasionally clashed with the team’s aspirations, as they sought to enhance their own opportunities of replacing Sergio Perez.
The incident brought to light a significant contrast between the drivers, as Tsunoda expressed his anger over the radio while Ricciardo remained composed. This was evident even when Tsunoda surprised Ricciardo by aggressively overtaking him at Turn 8 during the cool-down lap, and then almost colliding with him as they exited the corner.
Ricciardo commented, “That’s why I immediately spoke on the radio, questioning what was happening here.”
“I did express a few things, but I also tried to restrain myself because I was aware that everything gets broadcasted. I knew we would discuss it once we take off our helmets and perhaps when our heart rates have calmed down a bit.”
Ricciardo gained experience alongside Tsunoda after joining RB halfway through the previous season when the team was still called AlphaTauri.
However, it was during the Bahrain race that he witnessed the fiery side of the 23-year-old driver for the first time.
Ricciardo mentioned that the previous year saw only a limited number of races, yet he believed that everything went quite smoothly.
Clearly, there was a minor incident over the weekend.
Had we not confronted it and abruptly departed from the scene, one could argue that it would have become a significant problem.
Both of us were eager to come together and have a constructive conversation about it. I believe that was crucial.
It is crucial, as emphasized by the eight-time grand prix winner, to ensure that the incident does not lead to any internal team rivalries.
In Bahrain, RB secured 13th and 14th places, while Tsunoda achieved the best qualifying position of 11th for the Saturday night race.
The team finds itself in a critical situation where each point holds significant value, and the current focus is on maximizing opportunities to secure them.
Given my current position in my career and my age, I believe that it is important to recognize that while I may still engage in some immature behavior and not always fully embody the characteristics of an adult, I am able to understand the importance of avoiding rivalry or unnecessary attention, especially during the early stages of a long season.
Furthermore, considering the presence of new team members, it is crucial for everyone to support and uplift each other, fostering confidence and growth within the team. It is our responsibility to assist them in their development.
Although the incident at the end of the race was not ideal, I believe that the way we handled it during our meeting actually improved the team’s overall dynamics, surpassing even the state it was in on Saturday morning.
Leave a Reply