Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko has defended Daniel Ricciardo after his incident with Lance Stroll in the Chinese Grand Prix.
It has been a disappointing start to the 2024 season for the Aussie, with no points scored in the opening five races and back-to-back retirements in the previous two rounds.
In China, Ricciardo had been running ninth under the safety car after Kick Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas came to a halt at turn 11.
As the race was about to restart, Fernando Alonso locked up on the approach to the hairpin, causing a concertina effect as the drivers behind slammed on the brakes.
Lance Stroll collided with Daniel Ricciardo in ChinaRicciardo was forced to retire from the race
Marko defends Ricciardo over Stroll incident
Team-mate Lance Stroll, who was behind Ricciardo, ended up crashing heavily into the back of the Visa Cash App RB, forcing him to retire later in the race.
Stroll was handed a 10-second time penalty for the incident but refused to take the blame, referring to Ricciardo as an ‘idiot’ over the team radio.
After the race, Ricciardo was handed a three-place grid penalty for Miami after he overtook Nico Hulkenberg under safety car conditions, and Yuki Tsunoda’s retirement summed up a dismal weekend for the team.
Speaking on his column for Speedweek after the race, Marko defended Ricciardo over the incident, stating that it was not his weekend in Shanghai.
“Daniel Ricciardo had a new chassis available in China and the whole thing was planned from the start because it is our third chassis that we wanted to bring to the track. But of course this change also played into psychology after Daniel's disappointing performances on the previous weekends.
“Things went much better for Ricciardo in China. I find it unbelievable that Lance Stroll called him an idiot after the checkered flag fell. And that he also had to receive a penalty for Miami. This really wasn't his weekend.”
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
GP JAPAN
5 - 7 Apr
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
GP USA
3 - 5 May
GP ITALY
17 - 19 May
GP MONACO
24 - 26 May
GP CANADA
7 - 9 Jun
GP SPAIN
21 - 23 Jun
GP AUSTRIA
28 - 30 Jun
GP GREAT BRITAIN
5 - 7 Jul
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
Grand Prix of Hungary 2024 
Grand Prix of Belgium 2024 
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024 
Grand Prix of Singapore 2024 
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024 
Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024 
Qatar Grand Prix 2024 
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024 
Innovatieweg 20C