Is the battle for the seat next to Verstappen reaching boiling point?
F1 News
Every driver wants to at least beat his teammate in Formula 1. Especially when a huge reward beckons. Visa Cash App RB drivers know what they are fighting for in 2024. Should Sergio Perez leave Red Bull Racing after this season, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo are candidates to succeed him. A heated battle between them was already evident in Bahrain.
Yuki Tsunoda was not happy, to say the least, that his team gave the order for Daniel Ricciardo to move ahead in the closing stages of the race in Bahrain. Although it was only about 12th place, the Japanese driver was swearing and ranting in his car. Only after some time did Tsunoda do as he was told. In the standings between them, it is now 1-0 to Ricciardo.
Ricciardo puts future at Red Bull into perspective
The fact that Tsunoda reacted so angrily could just be because of the pressure ahead next season, when the spot next to Mas Verstappen may become vacant. Daniel Ricciardo says he is not focusing on that. "Look, I don't know. I've been in this for a long time now. I feel like every year, there is a bit of pressure. I'm someone that's obviously got to a top team. I'm also someone who's lost a contract and been kind of sitting on the sidelines. So, I guess I've been through it all. You have to simplify these things."
"I'm standing here. I know I'm doing media. But my purpose for being here this weekend is to race. It's driving. I drive the car as fast as I can. We can overcomplicate it or think about what happens. And do I have a chance of getting this contract? Like, there's so many things. But all we've got to do is push that right pedal a little more than the left. And really, that's it. So, honestly, sometimes you have to break it down to something that simple," Ricciardo said.