Australian Flag

AUSTRALIAN GP

START RACE
Quali. 15 Mar 2025  05:00 - 06:00    |    Race 16 Mar 2025  04:00 - 06:00
+ More Information
Australian Flag

AUSTRALIAN GP

START RACE
Quali. 15 Mar 2025  05:00 - 06:00    |    Race 16 Mar 2025  04:00 - 06:00
+ More Information
Ricciardo's Fateful Choice Led to Career Decline

Marko Claims Ricciardo Lost Edge After Red Bull Exit

29/09/2024

Helmut Marko critiques Ricciardo’s career-defining move and a broken promise, marking a steep downturn.

Helmut Marko believes Daniel Ricciardo’s career reached a pivotal juncture upon his departure from Red Bull. The Austrian team’s advisor asserts that the driver made a poor choice, further complicated by breaking a verbal agreement with both him and Dietrich Mateschitz.

“It was an event organised in Graz’s main square. Afterwards, we sat down together and reached an agreement, sealed with a handshake,” recounted Marko.

“He then went to Salzburg and did the same with Dietrich Mateschitz. However, he had reservations about the Honda engine that would have been offered to us, and he seemingly took more advice from Renault and Cyril Abiteboul.”

The 1971 Le Mans winner observes that after leaving Red Bull, Ricciardo failed to find his stride, altering him: “He didn’t have a winning car at Renault or McLaren. He won in Monza, but that was under unique circumstances.”

“I don’t know exactly what happened, because if we had, we would have helped him. But the speed, and particularly, that late braking, then he goes left or right. In recent years, he tried, but it just wasn’t there. The killer instinct had vanished.”

Nevertheless, there are no hard feelings, and Red Bull is keen for Ricciardo to remain in a different role outside the cockpit: “We’ve had a discussion and it’s clear we are interested. He is one of the most popular Formula One drivers, especially in the USA. But he needs time to think about his future.”

“I don’t think he’ll commit to another category. And, on the other hand, if he’s no longer actively racing, will he still want to engage in these public relations activities? Ricciardo also has a considerable amount of money in the bank and I would say it’s a life decision for him on how he wants to shape his future.”

Ricciardo’s Fateful Choice Led to Career Decline Ricciardo’s Fateful Choice Led to Career Decline

F1 Standings 2025
F1 Standings 2025
#
Driver
Points
1
Driver Flag
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
2
Driver Flag
Lando Norris
McLaren
0
3
Driver Flag
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
0
4
Driver Flag
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
5
Driver Flag
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
6
Driver Flag
George Russell
Mercedes
0
#
Team
Points
1
McLaren
Norris & Piastri
0
2
Ferrari
Leclerc & Hamilton
0
3
Red Bull
Verstappen & Lawson
0
4
Mercedes
Russell & Antonelli
0
5
Aston Martin
Alonso & Stroll
0
6
Alpine
Gasly & Doohan
0
F1 Calendar 2025
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race Date
Australia Flag
Australian
Albert Park
16 Mar
China Flag
Chinese
Shanghai International Circuit
23 Mar
Japan Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
Bahrain Flag
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabian
Jeddah Street Circuit
20 Apr
FULL CALENDAR
Race Center

Race Center

Australian flag
Australian GP
13 Mar - 16 Mar
Your time Local time
FP1 13 MAR 15:30
FP2 13 MAR 19:00
FP3 14 MAR 15:30
QU 14 MAR 19:00
RACE 15 MAR 18:00
Go toTop