Yuki Tsunoda has dominated qualifying this season, winning all three sessions so far. In Melbourne, Tsunoda outperformed Ricciardo in both qualifying and the race, leaving the VCARB driver exposed.
The NZ Herald, led by the Liam Lawson lobby, suggests that if Ricciardo doesn’t improve in the next two Grand Prix races in Japan and China, Red Bull may consider replacing him with Lawson. It is likely that Lawson will take over the Racing Bulls seat for the Miami race and continue with the team for the rest of the season. The report also indicates that Lawson is seen as Red Bull’s best long-term option to partner with world champion Max Verstappen, as Sergio Perez’s contract is set to expire in 2024.
Ricciardo’s F1 career has taken a downward spiral. Once a formidable competitor with Red Bull, winning seven GPs, he has lost his edge. His time at Renault was unremarkable, and his performance at McLaren was disappointing. Despite high expectations, Ricciardo failed to live up to his potential at McLaren, leading to Lando Norris outperforming him. McLaren made the decision to pay off Ricciardo early and replace him with Oscar Piastri, a decision that turned out to be a success.
After a period of unemployment, Ricciardo was given another chance when Nyck de Vries underperformed as an AlphaTauri driver. De Vries struggled to find his place in F1 and was eventually replaced by Ricciardo. However, the question arises: how long can a driver hold onto a race seat while deserving talent is being overlooked? The answer often comes down to financial considerations.
Ricciardo’s management team at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Sports not only manages his racing career but also secures sponsorship deals for the Red Bull junior team. They recently brokered a $35-million sponsorship deal with Visa CashApp. In addition, Ricciardo’s agents at CAA are exploring opportunities to grow his existing businesses, including his clothing brand, Ric3, and wine company, DR3 Wines by St Hugo, which are experiencing significant growth in the American market. Ricciardo also has endorsement deals with various brands and a growing relationship with the Bills and QB Josh Allen, who are also CAA clients.
Ricciardo is involved in various other projects, including his role as executive producer for a Hulu series that is set to be Formula 1’s version of the popular show ‘Entourage.’ This series is loosely based on Mark Wahlberg’s early career in Hollywood.
According to CAA data, Ricciardo’s fanbase has grown in the United States following the success of Netflix’s “Drive To Survive” series about Formula 1. This fly-on-the-wall series has been available on the streaming platform since 2020.
Adding to all of this is the fact that Christian Horner, a strong supporter of Ricciardo, played a role in his return. It is understandable that Ricciardo has returned to the team. Helmut Marko, who likely gave the final approval for Ricciardo’s return, also played a part. Initially, Ricciardo served as a reserve for the organization, and after the De Vries incident, he secured a seat back on the grid alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
However, the Ricciardo we once knew from his days at Red Bull is no longer the same. Despite having nearly 250 Grand Prix starts, 32 podium finishes, and eight wins to his name, he has been outperformed by Tsunoda, who is not considered a strong benchmark. The 23-year-old Japanese driver has already out-qualified his more experienced teammate three times this season.
After ten Grand Prix starts in his comeback with AlphaTauri (now VCARB), Ricciardo has only scored points once. If there was ever a chance for him to secure the seat he desires, namely alongside Max Verstappen, it seems highly unlikely now.
According to ESPN, the Visa and CashApp title sponsorship is worth $35 million per year for the Red Bull organization. This deal was brokered by CAA. This explains why Liam Lawson is watching Ricciardo drive slowly, when in reality, the New Zealander should be in the car for the next race.
Furthermore, if Red Bull chief Christian Horner was focused on his job instead of allegedly engaging in a WhatsApp fling with a female team member, perhaps he would have noticed what we all saw last year with Ricciardo. It was clear that his time as a competitive driver was over. Bring on Lawson!
It is evident that Ricciardo must move on from Red Bull, as Max Verstappen will undoubtedly outperform him. It is difficult to imagine Ricciardo replacing Sergio Perez, who has consistently performed well for the World Championship. Last year, Perez finished second behind Max in the F1 World Championship. Although he faced challenges, Perez delivered and continues to do so this year.
Let’s not forget that Ricciardo was once considered a potential World Drivers’ Champion. He was a daring and highly regarded driver who even managed to push four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel out of Red Bull.
Now, Ricciardo retains his seat not because he is one of the top 20 racing drivers in the world, which he no longer is, but because it seems his management team has secured the drive for him due to his popularity and marketing value. But how long will this last?
According to ESPN, multiple sources have stated that Visa and CashApp do not have the authority to prevent a driver from moving teams. However, their partnership with Red Bull GmbH, which chose to maintain the second team rather than sell it off, provides Daniel Ricciardo with an added layer of protection.
The report also highlights the potential drawbacks of this deal for Ricciardo. If he were to suddenly regain his previous form and perform exceptionally well, it could hinder his aspirations within Red Bull if Visa and CashApp prefer him to remain as the face of VCARB.
After ten Grand Prix weekends in his second stint in Formula 1, it seems that Ricciardo’s return has been disappointing. Some individuals in the F1 paddock even suggest that he has regressed instead of improving, especially following his tumultuous time at McLaren.
Looking at the records, when Ricciardo was sidelined due to a hand injury from a crash at Zandvoort, his replacement, Lawson, did an outstanding job last season. The 22-year-old Kiwi impressed during the five Grand Prix weekends he stood in, even outperforming Tsunoda.
Considering Lawson’s performance, one cannot help but feel that he should be the one with ten races under his belt in his F1 career, rather than Ricciardo.