Helmut Marko has appeared to issue Daniel Ricciardo with a ‘first warning’ after the Australian’s below-par start to the 2024 season.
RB driver Ricciardo has been clear in his desire to return to the senior Red Bull team in 2025, taking Sergio Perez’s seat, but has so far underwhelmed against Yuki Tsunoda.
In Bahrain, Tsunoda comfortably out-qualified and out-raced Ricciardo before the late team order confusion, with the Japanese racer doing the same in Saudi Arabia, challenging for points after a Q3 appearance whilst Ricciardo was well behind.
The Jeddah race also featured a lonely spin at turn one for Ricciardo – and Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Marko has given the first hint that more is needed by the Perth native.
“There is a lot at stake this season for both Yuki and Daniel. Yuki’s qualifying was very good and Ricciardo will have to come up with something soon,” Marko wrote in his column for Speedweek.
“In qualifying at least, Tsunoda is very good.
“As a result, RB was in the points in the first stint in the race. After that, however, they fell further and further behind.
“In that area there is work to do, they can’t maintain their speed in the race.
“Either they are over-working the tyres or there are other reasons, that’s what we have to find out.”
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