Ricciardo's F1 Future Uncertain Amid Red Bull's Junior Team Struggles?
Mar.12 - Once apparently destined to re-join Red Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo could actually now be under pressure even to stay with the junior 'RB' team.
One reason for that could be the current Christian Horner scandal - given that the plan to revive Ricciardo's failing Formula 1 career following his McLaren ousting is believed to have been Horner's brainchild.
"Please understand that I concentrate on sport here," Marko told Speed Week. "I continue not to comment on other things."
Even 34-year-old Ricciardo admits he has struggled so far in 2024 - a critical year given Sergio Perez's expiring contract alongside Max Verstappen.
Mexican Perez, who brings key sponsorship to the team, is suddenly earning good reviews by the recently highly-critical Red Bull consultant Dr Helmut Marko.
"Great race," said the 80-year-old when asked about Perez's performance in Saudi Arabia.
"He overtook (Charles) Leclerc relatively quickly and then gained those five seconds, actually setting the same times as Max after that. We are very satisfied," Marko added.
As for Ricciardo, however, Marko is less impressed.
"There's a lot at stake this season for both Yuki (Tsunoda) and Daniel," he told Speed Week. "Yuki's qualifying performance was very good, but Ricciardo has to come up with something soon.
"At least Tsunoda is very good in qualifying," Marko added. "Then he is at the top of the points in the first stint, only to fall further and further behind after that.
"Whether the drivers are putting too much strain on the tyres or there are other reasons is what we need to find out."
Ricciardo is not taking all the blame, declaring after Jeddah: "I know we can be a lot better if we get the car under control. Everything just hasn't worked 100 percent."
However, Marko is keen to free up a RB cockpit next year for Liam Lawson, who the 80-year-old said was just as impressive as a substitute driver last year as Oliver Bearman was at Ferrari in Saudi Arabia.
"Sure, today the boys are all well prepared when they move up," he said. "But only if someone is really good can they achieve such achievements right from the start."
Former F1 driver Christijan Albers agrees that Marko will almost certainly give Lawson a full-time drive in 2025.
"As a newcomer, Bearman can easily end up high on the lists," he told De Telegraaf. "But Liam Lawson is still at the very top because he simply belongs in Formula 1 now.
"But Bearman is not far behind."
Marko may also want to keep Japanese Tsunoda at RB next year, amid rumours Aston Martin might be interested. "Last weekend, he did better than Daniel Ricciardo once again," said Albers.
"I see that Tsunoda is still very underestimated, and that is unfair."
Veteran F1 journalist Roger Benoit agrees, writing in Blick newspaper after Jeddah: "The eight-time GP winner Ricciardo looks old against Tsunoda so far."
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Definitely, especially if he keeps on getting outperformed on merit by Tsunoda.
Giving Lawson the drive instead of Ricciardo for this season would've perhaps been better in hindsight, & him getting that for next season isn't a foregone conclusion, especially as he doesn't do active racing this year, while Iwasa, another viable contender, does.
Agree let lawson in the car.young with gteat potential
I said at the time that Lawson should havr got the drive, he is the future.
RIC is and always has been over hyped because of his personality. An objective assessment of his driving means he is a midfield driver at best.
He is only in there because Horner loves him.
Do you notice when things don't go well he refers to we but if he does get the car up there it is I.
Do you notice when things don't go well he refers to we but if he does get the car up there it is I.
This trait maybe typical of F1 drivers because the Dame uses it too
I was defending him in my own mind, but no more. Times up. I wonder now if his funny anecdotes were funny or if he has a kangaroo loose in the top paddock.
Either way he is contracted to ORBR and on loan to Visa on the visor.
Let him run round Melbourne then let him know he is needed urgently back at ORBR as 3rd driver.
Seat fitting Liam hop to it.
DR started his career at RB with some great driving and some brilliant passing moves. However, since he jumped the RB ship and went to Renault his skills have disappeared. I had hopes he may be reinvigorated by the return to the RB stable, but he has failed and is overshadowed by YT.
As others have said, in retrospect RB would have had a better result giving the drive to Liam Lawson this year, and elevating Lawson to partner Max next season after Cheko departs.
Retrospect is wonderful!