Bull fight
Christian Horner lifts lid on bitter feud within Red Bull F1 team after legend brutally sacked mid-season
A message on Ricciardo's helmet earlier this season appeared at the height of the debate
CHRISTIAN HORNER has lifted the lid on more bitter infighting at Red Bull this season and the axing of Daniel Ricciardo.
Formula One legend Ricciardo was brutally cut by sister team VCARB following the Singapore Grand Prix, with his seat being handed to 22-year-old Liam Lawson for the remainder of the season.
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The 35-year-old claimed the fastest lap in his swansong, but broke down in tears in an interview following the race.
However, Red Bull boss Horner has now revealed how team advisor Helmut Marko wanted the Australian out of the car in JUNE.
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Horner said: "He [Ricciardo] started the season roughly, and then Miami was a weekend of two halves.
"The Friday and Saturday morning was fantastic, and it looked like the Daniel of old defending against the Ferraris and outdriving the car. But then the Saturday afternoon and the Sunday were disastrous.
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"So even around Barcelona, Helmut wanted him out of the car, and there was already a lot of pressure on him there.
“By the time we got to Montreal, it was actually dear old Jacques Villeneuve who got him properly wound up by giving him a hard time.
"And it definitely fired him up, because the way he drove the car that weekend, he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and put together a very strong race weekend.
“So I did say [to Ricciardo]: give Jacques a call every time every Grand Prix, for the rest of the year, because whatever he said, it definitely worked."
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The debate over his position may have explained the handwritten message Ricciardo put on his helmet at the Spanish GP, with the words "Not without a fight".
Ricciardo's lack of consistent form didn't do enough to convince team bosses to swap him and Sergio Perez - who himself was struggling for pace for much of the season - in the main team.
Inside Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen's feud
Horner, 50, added: "I've done my very best to buy him as much time in the car to allow him to deliver. Otherwise he would have been out of the car after Barcelona.
“All the drivers are under pressure to deliver, but the reason that Daniel was in that car was to get himself back into a position to ultimately be there to pick up the pieces if Checo didn't deliver.
"The problem was they both had issues with form at varying times. Checo started the season very well, very strongly, and Daniel was struggling.
"And then, obviously, as Checo lost form, Daniel found a bit of form. But it was never compelling enough to say, ‘OK, we should switch the two drivers'.”
F1 fan favourite Ricciardo said he had "loved this sport" his whole life, thanking all those who had been a part of the journey that saw him win eight races.
F1 2025 grid
Here are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Williams: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and TBC
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan
RB: Yuki Tsunoda and TBC
Haas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon
Lewis Hamilton led other drivers in paying tribute to him, with the seven-time world champion saying: "It’s been a honour to compete with you over the years.
"You leave a legacy of always being yourself, which in this sport is never easy. You’ve taken it all with the biggest smile and I salute you for it.
"There is so much more for you up ahead and I can’t wait to see what you do next. Always here for you, man."
The ultimate fate of Ricciardo is the tip of the iceberg in terms of Red Bull infighting this season, with Horner, Marko and Max Verstappen's father and former F1 driver, Jos, not seeing eye-to-eye.
The feud appears to have cooled down since the start of the season.
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The civil war even led to reigning world champion Verstappen declaring he would quit the team if Marko was sacked following rumours he might be suspended.
The next F1 race is not until the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on October 20.
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