34-year-old Ricciardo’s contract expires at the end of the season, and his hopes of replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull next year have been dashed as Perez recently signed a contract extension. Additionally, Ricciardo’s position at Red Bull-owned RB, the sister team to the champions, seems uncertain, with Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko suggesting it is time to bring in a young driver. One potential candidate is 22-year-old Liam Lawson from New Zealand, who has impressed as a stand-in and currently serves as the team’s reserve driver.
During a press conference at the Red Bull Ring, Ricciardo revealed that he was unaware of Marko’s comments until he arrived at the track. He expressed his neutrality towards the situation, stating that performance is the most crucial factor in the sport. Ricciardo understands that he must deliver strong performances to secure his position in the team. He acknowledged that his smile or other non-performance-related factors would not be enough to guarantee his place. However, he clarified that he has not faced any pressure or ultimatums from the team thus far.
VCARB, the team Ricciardo is associated with, has already confirmed Yuki Tsunoda as one of their drivers for 2025. Chief executive Peter Bayer stated in May that the team is satisfied with both drivers and their focus is on the upcoming races leading up to the summer break. There are three races remaining, including the one in Austria, before the August interval.
Ricciardo, who has won eight grand prix races in his career, seven of which were with Red Bull from 2014 to 2018, has been outperformed by Tsunoda in the ten races held this season. Last year marked Ricciardo’s comeback season after mutually parting ways with McLaren at the end of 2022. His performance was mixed, with a notable victory at Monza in 2021 standing out among otherwise subpar results. (Reported by Alan Baldwin)