F1 News: Daniel Ricciardo Reveals "Private Briefing" With Yuki Tsunoda After Bahrain Clash

Daniel Ricciardo opens up on patching things up with Yuki Tsunoda following their cool-down lap blows in Bahrain.

Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo has spoken out about a "private briefing" he held with teammate Yuki Tsunoda following a contentious moment at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The incident, which occurred post-race, has since been resolved between the two.

Key Takeaways

• Ricciardo and Tsunoda resolved tensions after a near-miss on the cooldown lap at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
• The clash stemmed from Tsunoda's dissatisfaction with a team order to change positions during the race.
• The teammates' discussion aimed to rebuild trust and ensure smooth cooperation for future races.

Red Bull Press Image

The Formula 1 season kicked off with a stir within the RB team, as Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda experienced a tense moment during the cooldown lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Tsunoda, irked by a race strategy that favoured Ricciardo, expressed his displeasure through a risky manoeuvre that brought the teammates dangerously close. This act led Ricciardo to publicly critique Tsunoda's maturity, hinting at underlying tensions within the team.

As the F1 circus moved to Saudi Arabia for the next grand prix, Ricciardo shared insights into a private meeting held with Tsunoda. This "private briefing," as Ricciardo termed it, was crucial in clearing the air and setting a cooperative tone for the rest of the season. The Australian driver acknowledged his own public outburst but emphasised the importance of resolving such issues internally, away from the media's gaze. He commented 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.”

Red Bull Press Image

In response to questions about his trust in Tsunoda going forward, Ricciardo expressed confidence. He emphasised the value of their candid conversation in fostering a sense of trust and understanding. Acknowledging the pressures and challenges inherent in F1 racing, Ricciardo pointed out that such incidents, while regrettable, are not uncommon and can serve as learning opportunities for all involved.

“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.” 

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