Helmut Marko believes Daniel Ricciardo’s 2018 departure from Purple Bull was the “turning level” of his F1 profession.
On Thursday RB confirmed that Ricciardo has been dropped from their line-up, with Liam Lawson coming in to exchange him for the ultimate six races of the season in a transfer which doubtless alerts the tip of the 35-year-old Australian’s F1 profession.
An eight-time grand prix winner, Ricciardo was at one level thought of to be one of many main drivers on the F1 grid, however his latest performances at RB have underwhelmed, following on from his McLaren struggles in 2022.
Purple Bull motorsport advisor Marko reckons Ricciardo’s profession began to say no after he stop the workforce on the finish of 2018 with the intention to take a profitable supply from Renault, earlier than later switching to McLaren.
”I feel the choice to depart Purple Bull Racing was the turning level in his profession,” Marko advised Motorsport-Whole.com.
“Then he did not have a successful automotive at both Renault or McLaren. He did win at Monza, however these had been particular circumstances.
“I do not know what precisely occurred, as a result of if we knew, we’d have helped him.
“However the velocity and, above all, this late braking, after which he goes left or proper… in these previous few years he tried but it surely was not there, the killer intuition was gone.”
On Ricciardo’s resolution to depart Purple Bull, Marko added: “He had sure reservations concerning the Honda engine and apparently he listened extra to the candy discuss of Renault and Cyril Abiteboul.
“Financially, there wasn’t a lot distinction between what Renault supplied him and what we supplied. I additionally advised him: ‘Shoeys will probably be laborious for you’. I do not suppose we have seen Renault on the rostrum so much.
“He got here to us, beating Vettel with three-to-zero victories in 2014 and after that, Daniil Kvyat was quicker than him at instances, however over the season he additionally had him below management.
“After which Max got here and he obtained stronger and stronger, in order that was definitely one of many causes for his resolution to decide on Renault over us.”
Ricciardo’s remaining hurrah on the Singapore Grand Prix was to assist former Purple Bull teammate Max Verstappen’s title bid by securing the quickest lap and denying his foremost rival Lando Norris an additional level.
Marko stated Purple Bull had knowledgeable Ricciardo of their plan and felt his quickest lap was a becoming farewell.
“[The timing] was associated to a wide range of components and obligations,” Marko defined. “He was knowledgeable, and the worthy farewell efficiency was, I feel, the quickest lap.
“That also confirmed what potential he has, not repeatedly and never on the stage that might have justified him coming to Purple Bull Racing, however that was an impeccable efficiency.
“I feel it was clearly communicated that he must be considerably higher than Yuki Tsunoda and he solely managed that in a couple of races, so it was clear that this story of the prodigal son rejoining Purple Bull Racing sadly did not work out.
“He stated very nicely that he’s at peace with himself, and he has come to phrases with the scenario and we’ll see what his plans for the longer term are.”
