Helmut Marko, a prominent figure within Red Bull Racing, has suggested that Daniel Ricciardo lost his “killer instinct” after leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2018 season. Marko identified Ricciardo’s departure from the team as a pivotal turning point in the Australian’s Formula 1 career, impacting his performance and competitive drive in subsequent years.
Ricciardo, once considered one of F1’s standout talents, emerged through the Red Bull junior ranks to race for the main team between 2014 and 2018. During this period, he claimed seven wins, first alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and then with the rapidly rising Max Verstappen. Ricciardo’s aggressive overtaking and on-track prowess earned him a reputation as a fearless competitor.
However, Ricciardo’s career took a significant turn when he was persuaded by then-Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul to make a bold move to the Enstone-based team for the 2019 season. The Australian struggled to find the same level of success as he had with Red Bull, as Renault’s machinery was uncompetitive compared to the leading teams. After two underwhelming seasons, Ricciardo made a switch to McLaren.
A Struggle for Form at McLaren
Ricciardo’s time at McLaren saw flashes of brilliance, most notably when he claimed his eighth career victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix in Monza. However, his struggles to adapt to McLaren’s car persisted, resulting in two challenging seasons that ultimately led to his departure from the team a year before the end of his contract in 2022.
The ‘Killer Instinct’ That Faded
In an exclusive interview with Motorsport-Total.com, Marko expressed his belief that Ricciardo’s career struggles stemmed from leaving Red Bull, which caused him to lose the aggressive edge that had characterized his racing. “He was one of the strongest talents we’ve ever had,” said Marko, “but after he left, the spark, the ‘killer instinct,’ seemed to be missing.”
Marko’s comments come in the wake of Red Bull confirming that Ricciardo has been replaced by reserve driver Liam Lawson for the remainder of the 2024 season, starting from the US Grand Prix in Austin. The 35-year-old Australian is now left contemplating his future in racing after a 14-year stint in Formula 1.
A Shifting Landscape for Ricciardo
Ricciardo’s decision to leave Red Bull was viewed as a gamble to establish himself as a leader in a new team environment. Unfortunately, it did not yield the expected results. With Red Bull’s dominance in recent seasons and the rise of Verstappen, Ricciardo’s later ventures with Renault and McLaren never quite recaptured the momentum and success he experienced in his early F1 career.
As Ricciardo mulls over his future beyond 2024, the loss of his “killer instinct,” as described by Marko, may be a key factor in determining what comes next for the former Red Bull driver.
