Helmut Marko takes a dig at Ralf Schumacher for acting like he’s a Red Bull spokesperson over Daniel Ricciardo’s future

Helmut Marko was not happy with Ralf Schumacher for claiming to have Red Bull's future plans in Formula 1.

Helmut Marko takes a dig at Ralf Schumacher for acting like he’s a Red Bull spokesperson over Daniel Ricciardo’s future

Helmut Marko, Ralf Schumacher and Daniel Ricciardo (Images via IMAGO)

The Singapore GP is expected to be Daniel Ricciardo’s final race with Red Bull, as rumors suggest Liam Lawson would replace him. The Milton Keynes team is rumored to announce their decision on Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate following the race. Helmut Marko was displeased with Ralf Schumacher for acting like Red Bull’s spokesperson and disclosing confidential team information.

Helmut Marko stated that the team will decide on their driver lineup after the Singapore GP, emphasizing that nothing has been confirmed yet. He criticized Ralf Schumacher for acting as if he’s the team’s spokesperson, making it seem like decisions have already been made. Marko made it clear that any official announcement will only come after the Singapore race.

We’ll make the decision after Singapore. Ralf Schumacher has already almost declared himself as our press spokesperson, but I can’t confirm anything officially yet. The decision will be announced after Singapore.
Helmut Marko told Pitdebrief.com
YouTube video

Further, Marko was asked whether Daniel Ricciardo’s stay is uncertain. The 81-year-old stated there are no guarantees in F1. The driver’s performance is usually the main factor in deciding who stays or goes, but there can be other considerations as well. Ricciardo has been out of form for many races and has only amassed 12 points in the 2024 season. This might have influenced Red Bull to replace their junior teams line-up.

There are no guarantees in Formula 1—performance is usually the deciding factor, though other things can come into play.
Helmut Marko added.

Helmut Marko confirms ‘major strategic decision’ to be revealed after Singapore GP

Helmut Marko mentioned that choosing the drivers is a big and important decision for the team. It’s about making strategic choices on who will drive in which car to get the best performance. Marko stated that the Singapore GP is crucial for the team, as they’ve recently lost their lead due to a series of poor performances. The team will have final talks to decide who will be part of their lineup for the 2025 season. Other potential options will also be considered when discussing the drivers for next year.

Helmut Marko
Helmut Marko (via IMAGO)
It’s a major decision—strategic decisions on who will drive where. Singapore is another milestone, and after Singapore, we’ll have the final discussions to determine our line-up for 2025 and other options.
Helmut Marko stated.

Currently, the challenges Red Bull faced during the Azerbaijan GP show no signs of easing. In fact, they’ve encountered more issues with the car, leading them to prioritize fixing these problems over switching drivers. Red Bull is currently 20 points behind McLaren. If they can’t find ways to improve the car, it’s likely they will lose their chance at the title.