Helmut Marko SLAMS Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda for being too slow

The Red Bull backed VCARB outfit has got off to a tough start during the ongoing campaign.

Helmut Marko SLAMS Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda for being too slow

Helmut Marko, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo (Via: Imago)

For the first two races of the 2024 F1 season, the newly rebranded (AlphaTauri) VCARB outfit has been unable to score points. The team has been able to qualify at decent positions on the grid but has not been able to convert those into point-scoring races. This has now forced Helmut Marko to take a jibe at the slow pace of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the race in Melbourne.

Helmut Marko is known for his lack of patience with the Red Bull pool of drivers. Moreover, the only way to stay in either team is by bringing results to the table. However, things have not been going as planned in the Faenza-based VCARB outfit, as Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda have been trundling along the rear of the pack. Eventually, this led to their inability to score even a single point in the two races held as of now.

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The lack of results has now warranted the Austrian to give a wake-up call to the VCARB duo.

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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. So far Ricciardo is a bit behind. But let's put it this way: Tsunoda's qualifying speed is OK. But in the race, both are too slow.
Helmut Marko said in an interview with Sky Germany

The 80-year-old elucidated that both drivers are aiming for a seat at the prestigious Austrian giant for 2025. However, with their current run of performances, they are not posing themselves as the appropriate candidates for the same. Subsequently, this could build pressure on the two and could incentivize the VCARB duo to not trip over each other in races and work in tandem like the Haas duo managed in Saudi Arabia, to score points for the team.

Daniel Ricciardo reacts to Helmut Marko’s criticism

Daniel Ricciardo found himself on the receiving end of condemnation by Red Bull consultant, Marko. The strong criticism by the Austrian has come after a pair of mediocre weekends.

Daniel Ricciardo [L] Helmut Marko [R]
Daniel Ricciardo [L] Helmut Marko [R] (images via IMAGO)

In the first two races of the 2024 F1 season, Ricciardo has managed a P13 and P16 finish.

It’s not annoying. The most important part of our job is the driving but a big part of it is talking [to the media]. When things go well, everyone is talking positively and when they don’t, they don’t talk so positively.
Daniel Ricciardo said in an interview with motorsport.com

The 34-year-old mentioned that the criticism by Marko is expected as it’s his job to perform and score points for the team. Moreover, the Aussie mentioned that it is a usual phenomenon as when things go in favor of him, positive statements would be made around him and vice-versa.

Despite this, the Australian would be hoping for a successful weekend at the ongoing Australian Grand Prix weekend. Moreover, his target would be to claim points in front of his home fans and silence the critics once and for all.

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