Helmut Marko Sends Warning to Daniel Ricciardo: Urges Quick Action

Red Bull Racing Team adviser Helmut Marko has issued a clear warning to Daniel Ricciardo after two successive disappointing races. The veteran Australian driver, who will compete with Max Verstappen for a team seat for the 2025 season, is under pressure to improve his performances quickly.

In recent races, Ricciardo has overtaken teammate Yuki Tsunoda in the standings, which Marco hasn’t noticed. In the final race in Saudi Arabia, Tsunoda, a young Japanese talent, extended his lead over Ricciardo in the standings to half a second and took a place in the top ten on the starting grid.

Internal dissent within the Red Bull Racing team added to the pressure on Ricciardo. With Sergio Perez leaving at the end of the season, the team is looking for a new driver alongside Verstappen. While Perez has had consistent results, including two consecutive second-place finishes, it’s clear the team is looking at future options.

Riccardo’s incredible performances in the opening races have raised concerns amid high expectations from Red Bull Racing to challenge the championship leaders this season. Marco stressed the importance of Ricciardo delivering a more compelling and necessary performance in future races.

“A word about Racing Bulls,” Marco noted in his Speedweek column. “There is a lot at stake for both Yuki and Daniel this season. Yuki’s timed performance was very good and Ricciardo should deliver something soon.”

In addition, Marco stressed the need for improvement for the entire Red Bull Racing team. Despite Verstappen’s strong performance, the team struggled to keep up during the races, producing inconsistent results.

Marco said the team needs to work on improving its performance over the long haul. “Tsunoda was successful in qualifying, but the team needs to make sure they can maintain the pace throughout the race. It is important to understand the reasons for this inconsistency and take corrective action.”

The start of the Formula 1 season gives Ricciardo a chance to recover and show his true talent in the upcoming race. However, time is running out and he must act quickly to secure his place in the team and prove his worth as one of the top drivers in the class.