Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda Resolve Tensions After Bahrain Incident: Insights into Their Private Briefing

In a revealing update, Daniel Ricciardo discusses a crucial “private briefing” with teammate Yuki Tsunoda following a tense moment at the Bahrain Grand Prix. This discussion played a pivotal role in mending the rift and setting a cooperative tone for the upcoming races.

Key Takeaways

• Ricciardo and Tsunoda’s Relationship Rebuilt: The private discussion between the two drivers was essential in resolving the post-race tension, focusing on rebuilding trust and cooperation within the team.
• Root Cause of the Clash: Tsunoda’s risky manoeuvre on the cooldown lap, a reaction to a team order changing positions during the race, sparked the conflict.
• Moving Forward with Confidence: Both drivers emphasised the importance of the meeting for clearing doubts and ensuring a smooth working relationship for future competitions.

The opening race of the Formula 1 season witnessed an unexpected drama within the RB team, with Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda having a contentious encounter during the cooldown lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The tension arose from Tsunoda’s dissatisfaction over a race strategy that seemed to favor Ricciardo, leading to a risky on-track move. Ricciardo’s public criticism of Tsunoda’s maturity hinted at deeper issues within the team.

As the F1 community prepared for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Ricciardo disclosed details about a private meeting with Tsunoda. This “private briefing” was a pivotal moment for both drivers, allowing them to air grievances and set a constructive path forward for the season. Ricciardo expressed his thoughts to Sky F1:

“I obviously said a few things on the radio and I obviously know that everything gets broadcast, so someone is going to pick it up, so I said a few things but I also tried to save it for the briefing as well. I also know as soon as you put the helmet on and also at the end of a race, yeah there’s some frustrations, you are also a bit exhausted. So you can maybe do things which are maybe a little bit out of character, so I try to take these things into account as well. But also, it was something for us afterwards. I think enough got put out there to the public but it was important that we spoke after the race. After our technical briefing we then had a private briefing and just cleared the air. That was important for Yuki and I to do it and also for the team to know we’re not going to have problems moving forward. It’s race one and I think that’s what we needed to do, and leave that room and be like ‘alright, it’s done’, Saudi here we come.”

In light of inquiries regarding his trust in Tsunoda, Ricciardo showed optimism and a forward-looking perspective. He underscored the significance of their candid discussion in cultivating mutual trust and understanding. Acknowledging the high-pressure environment of F1, Ricciardo pointed out that such incidents, while unfortunate, are part of the sport and can be valuable learning experiences.

“Yeah we have to and that’s why I think if we just kind of let it go, maybe there’s still these questions or doubts. That’s why I think it was so important for us to, once the helmet was off and we got out of our race suit, we sat in the room and we talked very openly together. So moving forward there is trust. I think also, there’s a lot, probably with the in-lap – that was that, but the race situation, these things happen. It’s not the first time there’s been a bit of a delay with a driver swap. We do have new people on the pit wall and everything. It was also something that can happen in race one. So I wanted to try and take that into account. We’re not perfect yet. So all these little things make us come here with no issues.”

This discussion between Ricciardo and Tsunoda not only showcases the complexities within a Formula 1 team but also highlights the importance of communication and teamwork in this high-stakes sport. As the season progresses, the RB team, bolstered by this resolution, looks to tackle the upcoming races with a united front.