F1 News
Daniel Ricciardo reveals how frustrated Helmut Marko can get at Red Bull
Daniel Ricciardo has spoken about Helmut Marko's reactions when things don't go so well. The now Renault driver left Red Bull at the end of the 2018 season after a long spell.
On Nico Rosberg's Beyond Victory podcast Ricciardo revealed just how frustrated the Red Bull advisor can get. He also detailed how helpful Marko has been.
"He was always very passionate. He cared and because he cared so much he was also very hard and firm. Every time I finished a conversation with him on the phone, I knew where I stood and what he expected so it certainly made me grow up quick. I respect him a lot for that," Ricciardo said.
"It wasn't always nice seeing his name pop up. 'Do I really want to answer it?'. But if you're like if I don't answer it now, I'm just going to have to do it later. Sometimes you just have to listen and nod and suck it up."
When things go wrong, Marko isn't pleased. Prior to a test in 2010, Ricciardo was nearly forced out as a result of Marko's frustration. The Australian missed a test because he had fractured his wrist.
“About two weeks before the test – and we only had two tests, so it was limited – basically I had a crash on my mountain bike and fractured my wrist,” he revealed.
"I knew I couldn’t do the first test. I could hardly move my hand, but I flew to Jerez in Spain to try and show that I was going to at least try.
“I did the out-lap and came straight back to the pits. I just said ‘sorry guys, I can’t’. Then my phone rings. Helmut: ‘What happened?’ and I was like ‘I really tried, I couldn’t, I’m so sorry but I’ll let it heal and don’t worry I’ll be ready for the first race’.”