Helmut Marko shares his opinion on a potential mid-season swap between Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson. The disappointing start to the 2024 Formula 1 season for Ricciardo has not gone unnoticed. The driver, who has won eight Grand Prix races, has been consistently outperformed by his teammate. This has sparked rumors of a potential switch between Ricciardo and Red Bull’s reserve driver, Lawson.
Liam Lawson made a strong impression during his brief time in F1 last season when he replaced Ricciardo after his crash during practice at Zandvoort. Considering Ricciardo’s current performances, people have been asking Marko about the possibility of a switch between the two drivers.
Marko, who is an advisor for Red Bull, stated that Lawson is a highly talented driver who should definitely have a spot on the grid in 2025. Whether he will secure a seat with VCARB or another team in the upcoming season remains to be seen.
Ever since Ricciardo made his comeback to F1 in the middle of the 2023 season, he has expressed his desire to drive for Red Bull again. However, this season he has struggled to match the performance of his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, and it seems unlikely that Red Bull will consider him as an option. When asked about Ricciardo’s chances of rejoining Red Bull, Marko remained non-committal.
Based on his current performance, it appears that Ricciardo has not lived up to the expectations set for him at the start of the season. If he hopes to secure a seat with the Milton-Keynes-based team in the future, he will need to regain his form.