Following the Bahrain Grand Prix, tensions flared between the two RB drivers, nearly resulting in a collision post-race due to frustrations over team orders.
Daniel Ricciardo emphasized the presence of “trust” between himself and RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda following discussions aimed at clearing the air after the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Tsunoda expressed discontentment with instructions to yield to Ricciardo during the closing stages of the race at the Bahrain International Circuit. Both RB drivers were trailing Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, who was positioned outside the points.
Audible frustration was evident over the team radio broadcasts as Tsunoda approached Ricciardo closely on the in-lap, raising concerns about a potential collision. Despite the tense situation, Ricciardo remained composed, indicating that the matter would be addressed upon their return to the paddock.
Ricciardo elaborated; “I obviously know everything does get broadcast and someone’s going to pick it up,”
“So ok, I said a few things but I also tried to save it for the briefing as well because I know these things are… it’s hard when you put the helmet on, and also at the end of the race, there’s frustration and you’re also a bit exhausted.
“You can always do some things which are out of character so I try to take these things into account as well.
“But it was also something for us afterward. Enough got put out into the public, but it was important that we spoke after the race.
“So after our technical briefing, we then had a private briefing and just cleared the air. So it was important for Yuki and I to do it but also for the team to know we are not going to have problems moving forward. It’s race one and that was what we needed to do.”
He added: “The in-lap, these things can have bigger consequences but we talked personally, privately, doors closed, very openly and transparently, so it was the right thing to do for us.”
The spotlight on the intra-team rivalry at RB has intensified this season, with both drivers having the opportunity to advance to Red Bull Racing next year.
Explaining the significance of the discussions with Tsunoda following the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ricciardo stated: “If we kind of let it go, there are still these questions or doubts but that’s why it was important for us to… obviously once the helmet was off, and we got out of our race suits, we sat in a room and talked together.
“So moving forward there is trust, I think also these things happen, it is not the first time where there’s a bit of a delay in a driver swap.
“We do have new people on the pit wall. It is something that can happen in race one, we are not perfect yet, so all these little things make us come here… no issue.”
