F1 News: Pressure On Yuki Tsunoda As Helmut Marko Puts Driver In His Place

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has made it clear where things will stand in the AlphaTauri team with the addition of Daniel Ricciardo.

Helmut Marko has snubbed Yuki Tsunoda as Daniel Ricciardo will be joining him on the AlphaTauri team. 

It was confirmed earlier this week that Nyck de Vries had lost his spot on the Italian team after failing to put in the required performance in the first ten races of the 2023 season. Eight-time grand prix winner and current Red Bull third driver, Daniel Ricciardo, has been given the seat for the rest of the season. 

The move led many to wonder what this might mean for Tsunoda who has been with the team since 2021 and has been doing well as the lead driver so far this season. However, in a recent interview with F1 Insider, the Red Bull motorsport advisor made it clear where things will stand with the team, putting Tsunoda in his place. 

Marko also revealed that Ricciardo was told ahead of the Pirelli tyre tests at Silverstone that if he put in some good times, de Vries' seat was his. He explained:

"He [Daniel Ricciardo] knew he would get the seat if he did well, and he passed that stress test very well.

"Daniel is now the benchmark of our junior, [Yuki] Tsunoda."

Others believe that Ricciardo has been given the seat in order to get back into racing before taking Sergio Perez's seat with Red Bull in 2024, who has been outshined by his teammate and current championship leader, Max Verstappen. However, this has not been confirmed by either party and is just speculation at the moment. 

AlphaTauri and Red Bull have come under fire for the abrupt nature of de Vries' firing as many feel he should have been given the whole of his rookie season to prove his place on the team.