Tsunoda and Ricciardo resolve team orders tension

Yuki Tsunoda had a not-so-positive end to the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, opening fire on his team during the cool-down lap after team orders left the RB driver fuming in P13, however, he now says he “respects” the decision. 

Since the incident in which Tsunoda locked up on his way to parc fermé before almost colliding with his teammate, the 23-year-old has reflected on his actions, coming to a better understanding of why the call was made, and perhaps how to better handle the situation in the future — crucially not as publicly, nor recklessly.

Speaking yesterday, Tsunoda said the team is “still unified” despite the Round 1 tension. 

“We’re on the same page now, we understand each other,” Tsunoda said. 

“So, yeah, I think that’s it really.”

The moment came in the final stint of the 57-lap race.

Daniel Ricciardo had pitted for soft tyres, a strategy that had been proposed to the drivers pre-race according to the Australian, and was quickly approaching Tsunoda and Kevin Magnussen.

Tsunoda had been trying to catch and pass the Haas ahead for some time now, and with Ricciardo approaching on fresher and faster tyres, the call was made to swap the drivers, aggravating the Japanese driver. 

“I think we’re in a different strategy as Daniel and he had a newer tyre – well, he had soft tyres, and I was fighting with Kevin, so obviously he has slightly more free air and he had more pace. 

“I think probably the team thought Daniel had more pace too, and there’s more chance to overtake Kevin, so they asked me to swap the position. 

“In the moment, I was a bit heated.

“I still in the end let him through probably a lap later or half a lap later. 

“They thought they had more chance and I respect that.”

Magnussen held his own against the RB drivers during the Bahrain GP. Image: Andy Hone / LAT Images.

Ultimately, the RB pairing finished in P12 and P13, unable to pass the Haas and notably with the #3 ahead.

Ricciardo put his teammate’s reaction down to “immaturity”, now adding that at his age and stage in his career comes a better perspective of these issues.

“We talked personally, privately, doors closed, openly, transparently, so it was the right thing to do and we left on Saturday night feeling “it’s done”!” Ricciardo said. 

“I said a few things [over the radio] but I also had to stop myself, because I know everything gets broadcasted and I knew it was something we would discuss once the helmet’s off and maybe the heart rate come down a little. 

“But I think the team handled it really well after the race, in terms of getting us together, making sure that nothing was left on the table or there was no more.

“What I just honestly think where I’m at in probably my career and probably just my age. 

“OK, I still do some immature things. And I still am not fully an adult sometimes. But I think in those situations, I very much understood that. 

“No one’s going to benefit from us having a rivalry or tension or anything like this from race one of a long season, especially when the team has new personnel, everyone’s trying to pick each other up and kind of build themselves in the confidence. 

“We need to help them do that as well.”

Ricciardo arrived in the Saudi Arabian GP paddock looking refreshed after a busy week in the media. Image: Andy Hone / LAT Images.

With Ricciardo and Tsunoda fighting it out not only for intra-team glory but for a chance to be promoted to the coveted Red Bull Racing seat, it is no surprise to see the duo already getting competitive, however, for a no-nonsense team, Tsunoda’s display last Sunday will have to be the last of its kind if he wants any chance at a promotion.

“Definitely it’s the thing I have to improve, for sure,” Tsunoda said. 

“I mean, if I do those things, again, for sure, [there] will be more issues.

“I have confidence I can prove that and it’s up to [Red Bull] if they want me or not, I think for the rest of the things.

“It’s still a learning process and probably what I showed in Sunday was opposite – or Saturday. 

“But [I] just keep remind[ing] myself just before the before I jump into the car, no pressing radio.

“I’m just going to say I just try my best to improve and you will see in the track from this race onwards.”

The RB duo will be back on track, relationship mended, early tomorrow morning, AEST, with FP1 kicking off at 12:30 AM, Friday.

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Hooray, F1 is back. Boo, Max Verstappen wins. The Bahrain Grand Prix was a little underwhelming, but at least there was racing… and scandal. There was plenty of scandel, but we don’t do that stuff apparently, so we don’t talk about Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen.