RB boss admits 'difficult' Ricciardo decision made in 'emotion' claim
RB boss admits 'difficult' Ricciardo decision made in 'emotion' claim
Visa Cash App RB team principal Laurent Mekies has said that the team needs to be strong following the conflict between his drivers recently in Bahrain.
Daniel Ricciardo lost his temper with Yuki Tsunoda after the opening race of the 2024 season, while Tsunoda was left angered by the team orders issued to him.
READ MORE: Sky Sports F1 pundit tips KEY Red Bull figure to join Hamilton at Ferrari
While the Japanese driver was chasing the Haas of Kevin Magnussen for 12th place, he was ordered to let Ricciardo past as he was on the softer tyre.
Tsunoda eventually let the Aussie past, but he was unable to overtake Magnussen, leaving the 23-year-old furious with his team’s decision.
During the cool down lap after the race, Tsunoda aggressively overtook Ricciardo, which resulted in the latter calling his team-mate a ‘f****** helmet’ over the team radio.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: F1 champion insists Red Bull NOT responsible for 2023 success
Mekies: The execution should have been better
Now, RB chief Mekies has admitted that the team could have handled the situation better and that they will try to return the favour to Tsunoda if the opportunity comes about.
Speaking during the weekend in Saudi Arabia with Sky Sports, the Frenchman said: “It’s always going to be difficult to ask your drivers to swap and it’s always going to be even more difficult if you do that when the guy in front is attacking the car that is in front.
“Daniel had the new soft. I think if you don’t swap your cars when you have the guy on new soft behind the guy on new hards and the chance to get the guy in front, I think we would be weak not to do it.
READ MORE: Verstappen backs father as Red Bull F1 fractures DEEPEN
“Obviously we are conscious the execution should have been better. We reviewed it with Yuki, with Daniel and we will certainly try to put less emotion in it the next time.
“But we also agreed that as a team it was the right thing to do in this sort of situation. There was no points ultimately there, but it could be tomorrow and we need to be strong enough as a team to make these kinds of calls.”
Mekies also stated that if the opportunity arises in future races, then the team would swap and return the favour to Tsunoda.
READ MORE: Jos Verstappen gives STUNNING verdict on Horner future at Red Bull
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Verstappen 'to meet Mercedes over SHOCK 2025 move as Red Bull exit clause revealed'
- 17 minutes ago
F1 champion reveals £100 MILLION contract to keep racing
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Newey 'property hunt' reveals Red Bull exit clues as Hamilton hints at Ferrari swoop
- 1 hour ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit calls for RADICAL change with impressive argument
- 2 hours ago
- 1
Newey TURNED DOWN F1 rivals before Red Bull decision
- 3 hours ago
Newey's wife 'scoping out properties' in MAJOR hint over next move
- Today 14:57
Related news
Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
Red Bull already sending parts to F1 race MONTHS away
Schumacher reveals what F1 pundits are NOT allowed to say about Red Bull
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