Marko issues 'ejector seat' warning to key RB figures

Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko has said that Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo are capable of making the step-up to the main team – but warns that the seat next to Max Verstappen is like an ‘ejector seat.’

As the Dutchman heads into 2024 searching for his fourth consecutive world title after dominating the field in 2023, it is also an important season for the driver on the other side of the garage at Red Bull.

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Despite achieving the first 1-2 in the drivers' championship in the team’s history, Sergio Perez struggled to compete against his team-mate last season and will be under increased pressure to stay in F1.

If the Mexican is to underperform, the drivers from the newly-rebranded Visa Cash App RB team – Tsunoda and Ricciardo – will be eyeing a move to the senior team if the opportunity arises.

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Marko warns drivers over second Red Bull seat

However, Perez, and the likes of Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly before him, have not been able to match or get close to Verstappen, and Marko has warned that no driver on the grid can do that, labelling the second Red Bull spot as an ‘ejector seat.’

“[The second seat alongside Verstappen is] highly coveted on the one hand, but also an ejector seat, as no team-mate can hold a candle to Max and it can quickly become demoralising,” Marko told Kleine Zeitung.

“For both of them [Ricciardo and Tsunoda], it’s not just about staying in Formula 1, but also about the opportunity to move up to Red Bull Racing. This applies to whoever clearly dominates the season within the team.”

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The Austrian did stress that Perez is still very much an option for the team in 2025 and while he does not see the Mexican’s focus on the title coming to reality, Marko affirmed that Perez will stay in the running for the seat if he is consistent and wins races, having only claimed two victories in 2023.

“Checo has to perform consistently,” Marko reiterated.

“It’s clear that he can’t always drive at Verstappen’s level. If he finishes second in the World Championship and wins one or two races, he will certainly be an option for 2025.”

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