Ricciardo almost afraid to take Helmut Marko's calls
Ricciardo almost afraid to take Helmut Marko's calls
Daniel Ricciardo has revealed what it was like working under Dr Helmut Marko for Red Bull, and says that the Austrian was so firm and no-nonsense about his approach that sometimes he thought about not even answering the phone to his boss!
Ricciardo was part of the Red Bull family as a junior driver and then in F1 for over a decade, and so grew as a competitor and as a person under the helm of Marko, know is known to be fairly abrasive in his opinions.
When Marko’s name popped up on Ricciardo’s phone, he knew he was in for a tough chat...if he answered.
"He was always very passionate," said the Renault driver on Nico Rosberg’s Beyond Victory podcast.
“He cared and because he cared so much he was also very hard and firm.
"Every time I finished a conversation with him on the phone, I knew where I stood and what he expected so it certainly made me grow up quick. I respect him a lot for that.
"It wasn't always nice seeing his name pop up. 'Do I really want to answer it?'
"But you're like if I don't answer it now I'm just going to have to do it later. Sometimes you just have to listen and nod and suck it up."
Ricciardo almost lost his chance with Red Bull in 2010 as he was forced to miss his first scheduled Formula Renault 3.5 test after fracturing his arm while mountain biking.
"About two weeks before the test - and we only had two tests, so it was limited - basically I had a crash on my mountain bike and fractured my wrist," he revealed.
"I knew I couldn't do the first test. I could hardly move my hand, but I flew to Jerez in Spain to try and show that I was going to at least try.
"I did the out-lap and came straight back to the pits. I just said 'sorry guys, I can't'. Then my phone rings.
Verstappen quicker than Vettel - RicciardoRead more
"Helmut: 'What happened?' and I was like 'I really tried, I couldn't, I'm so sorry but I'll let it heal and don't worry I'll be ready for the first race'."
Marko, obviously, was not impressed.
"I knew it was going to be tough because the next words were, a lot of silence, then 'you're an idiot' and he hung up," the Australian continued.
"I did the next test at Magny-Cours, it was probably about 10 days later and I remember all the hairpins, I couldn't get enough rotation with my wrist so I was just like one-handed.
"I got pole in the first race so that was alright.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton dealt China blow after major FIA decision as Ricciardo given huge Horner warning - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1 team unveil star-studded lineup in China
- Yesterday 23:12
F1 Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 22:27
Horner delivers threat to Ricciardo over Red Bull pressure
- Yesterday 21:57
F1 Sprint Race Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 21:27
Wolff left FUMING with Mercedes despite amazing Hamilton lap
- Yesterday 20:57
Related news
Drive to Survive Season Two launch date revealed
How F1's drivers have transformed over the 2010s
VIDEO: What F1 drivers got each other for Christmas
VIDEO: F1's 10 best overtakes in 2019
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860