When you have been hoping for some fireworks within the first race of the 2024 Components 1 season, you didn’t discover them on the entrance of the sector. Max Verstappen pulled away from the opposite 19 drivers, profitable the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and his fifty fifth profession victory. Teammate Sergio Pérez completed in second behind him, as Pink Bull locked out the primary race of the season for the second 12 months in a row.
But when it was fireworks you wished, you bought them.
Due to a pair of teammates.
Additional again within the discipline, the Visa Money App RB F1 Group of Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo was working exterior the factors, because the race wound right down to its conclusion. With Tsunoda on a pair of arduous tires working in P13, and Ricciardo simply behind him on a pair of softs, the order got here in to Tsunoda from the workforce.
Let Ricciardo by.
Tsunoda was incredulous, and initially it regarded as if he was not going to let his teammate go him. He did, however continued to air his frustration on the workforce radio, as famous in our post-race recap.
Tsunoda’s frustration continued after the checkered flag, as he lower in entrance of Riccardo after the race, almost inflicting a collision:
“What the fuck?” Ricciardo exclaimed on the radio as Tsunoda handed him. “Oh, reserve it.”
Talking with the media after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ricciardo made it recognized that this order was one thing the workforce mentioned going into the race, and blasted his teammate’s “immaturity.”
“I’m being very smart proper now, however let’s name it immaturity,” he stated to F1.com. “He’s clearly annoyed with the workforce orders name.
“However let’s be actual, that is one thing we talked about earlier than the race. It was very seemingly I used to be going to make use of a comfortable on the finish of the race. So he knew that there was an opportunity that I might have a tempo benefit on the finish and if he will get the decision, then it’s going to occur.”
The incident kicks off what may very well be a essential season for each drivers. Tsunoda and Ricciardo are two of the 13 drivers set to see their contracts expire on the finish of the 12 months, and whereas each are eying a promotion to Pink Bull — and the seat that’s presently occupied by Pérez — in addition they know that Liam Lawson is ready within the wings for any open seat on the grid.
Together with both of the seats they presently occupy.
Will the workforce easy issues over within the coming days, beginning with what is bound to be a frosty debriefing session tonight, or is that this only a signal of what the season can be at VCARB?
