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Why did VCARB oust Ricciardo? Helmut Marko explains
- Ludo van Denderen
Helmut Marko was at the forefront of Daniel Ricciardo's career. In the end, it was also the external advisor who helped decide Visa Cash App RB would part ways with the Australian with immediate effect. Speaking to Motorsport-Total, Marko explained why Red Bull had to make the decision about Ricciardo.
In short, Marko has concluded that Ricciardo is no longer the driver he once was. "I don't know what happened. If we knew, we would have helped him," stated the Austrian, who has not seen Ricciardo's former strengths - such as late braking or aggressive overtaking - since leaving Red Bull in 2018. "The killer instinct is no longer there."
Second farewell to Red Bull
Marko remembers how Ricciardo surprised everyone within Red Bull - in a negative way - by announcing a switch to Renault. That moment came after Ricciardo had first indicated he would re-sign. "There was an event in the main square in Graz," Marko looked back. "And then we sat together and came to an agreement. Sealed with a handshake. He then drove to Salzburg and did the same with Dietrich Mateschitz."
"But he had reservations about the Honda engine, which we were going to use, and he seemed to pay more attention to the nonsense of Renault and Cyril Abiteboul." So in the end, Ricciardo chose Renault after all, much to Mateschitz's annoyance. "He was very keen to keep what he had sealed with a handshake."