Helmut Marko has defended Red Bull’s handling of Daniel Ricciardo’s dismissal from RB, stating the announcement delay was due to "compelling commercial reasons" and that Ricciardo was informed "in good time," accepting the decision "at peace with himself." The Red Bull motorsport consultant justified the move, emphasizing Ricciardo was given a unique "second chance" to prove he could return to Red Bull Racing, but his performance simply wasn't consistent enough.
Beyond a fourth-place Miami sprint and a strong run in Mexico last year, the "necessary performance" to warrant a promotion was missing. Marko noted Ricciardo's famed "killer instinct" and uncompromising overtaking were no longer evident, something the team couldn't understand or fix. The Singapore fastest lap, snatched from Lando Norris, was considered a "fitting farewell performance." This move clears the path for Liam Lawson, signaling RB's full commitment to developing young talent within the Red Bull program.
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