Dutch rookie De Vries at risk of losing AlphaTauri seat after Imola?
May 12 - Daniel Ricciardo could be on the cusp of a sensational return to the Formula 1 grid.
Multiple authoritative media sources, including the major German newspaper Bild, report that Dutch rookie Nyck de Vries is already at risk of losing his new full-time seat at AlphaTauri.
Other reports suggest 28-year-old de Vries could be ousted as soon as Imola, and replaced either by Red Bull reserve Ricciardo or the much-younger Liam Lawson, who is currently racing Super Formula in Japan.
Ricciardo, 33, has reportedly already had a seat fitting in Faenza, while other sources believe de Vries has at least been given three more races to improve.
"The performance has been disappointing so far," an unnamed Red Bull source is quoted by the Dutch publication Formule 1 in reference to de Vries.
"If (Helmut) Marko thinks someone else can do better, he won't fail to give them a chance."
Some believe Ricciardo is actually less likely than 21-year-old New Zealander Lawson of potential securing de Vries' seat, although Ricciardo is gearing up to test Red Bull's 2023 car in the post-British GP Pirelli tyre test.
"There could perhaps be another one after Monza in September," Italy's Autosprint quotes Ricciardo as saying.
As for top Red Bull official Marko, he is ruling out a scenario in which Ricciardo could replace Sergio Perez to become Max Verstappen's teammate in 2024.
"Checo signed a two-year contract and that also includes 2024," Marko told RTL.
"With the performance that he delivers, there's nothing to be said against him - on the contrary," added the 80-year-old Austrian.
"He also has an incredible following in Mexico and other parts of South America."
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Nothing to see here. Doc is just reminding Gunny that he is the king of driver mismanagement. As for RIC having a seat fitting. Duh! He's the RB reserve driver and must be ready to drive immediately in an emergency. Of course he has race seats fitted for him.
Nothing like a good soap opera with quotes from unnamed sources!
I don't have anything against de Vries, although I believe Liam Lawson would be a better asset. He goes well. I believe he is a Red Bull Junior Driver, so he is already in the picture and currently competing in the Japan Super Formula Championship for Mugen, which is a subsidiary of Honda. It all fits!
So much hype over who is obviously a second rate driver
All that glisters is not gold
Punt him Gunflop
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