WAR AT RB – Ricciardo and Tsunoda ‘not on speaking terms’…

By Joe Murphy

Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda appear to be at odds already, with the season merely a race old.

During Saturday’s Grand Prix, a driver swap was delayed, then conducted poorly, and then didn’t even work out for the team as neither driver could get past Kevin Magnussen with his metaphorical shoulders out.

The two RB drivers were on different strategies, and Ricciardo was expected to be quicker on his newer soft tyres compared to the Japanese drivers hard compounds. The timing of the call from RB didn’t please either driver, with Ricciardo wanting it earlier and Yuki not really wanting it at all. So who is on the right?

Well, technically, both. Tsunoda was right on the tail of Magnussen, and the timing did seem odd. However, with Verstappen lapping from behind, Ricciardo needed this call a lap or two prior to having a proper clean go. As it turned out, letting the Dutchman by cost Danny dearly, and in the end, nobody benefitted. 

What of the post-race antics? Well, Yuki dive bombing Ricciardo was a tad unnecessary. They didn’t collide on track, and any calls for a driver swap don’t come directly from the Aussie himself. Ricciardo retaliated with comments over the radio before wisely deciding to save it for the team debrief, where words could be exchanged in private. 

Reports have now emerged that the RB pair are not currently on speaking terms. With Yuki still angry over the call and Ricciardo unimpressed by Tsunoda’s antics, the pair need to get on the same page quickly if the team is to be successful in Jeddah later this week. 

Both are professionals and these sorts of issues usually resolve themselves. They are both competitive racing drivers, so disagreements will happen. But not  talking to each other as reports suggest indicates petulance and immaturity, something RB doesn’t need when points are a real possibility in each race. It isn’t the best way to start the season, that’s for sure. Still, at least we knowing the opening episode for ‘Drive to Survive’ next year will focus on this and Christian Horner.