Marko reveals more about Ricciardo’s future and Red Bull’s options
While there is talk of Checo Perez leaving at the end of his contract, Red Bull's sporting advisor Helmut Marko has provided some details about Daniel Ricciardo's future for 2024 after his return and explained that they have alternatives within the Red Bull stable.
Who will take Sergio Perez’s place alongside Max Verstappen? That is the question currently being debated. The Mexican has been renewed by Red Bull for an additional two seasons in 2022, but he is struggling to keep up with his unstoppable teammate. Some observers even believe that Checo’s seat may not be guaranteed next season. Christian Horner has always stated that he intends to honor Perez’s contract and has even recently insisted that he could very well keep his position.
A battle between Ricciardo and Tsunoda…
On top of that, Daniel Ricciardo has found a seat at AlphaTauri. Returning to competition with the Red Bull team, the Australian driver has not hidden his ambitions and wants to be part of the race for a seat. Helmut Marko shared his opinion with Motorsport Magazine on the matter. « We know his goals, but how to achieve them, if he is ready to fully commit for a whole year at AlphaTauri next year. »
Also, Red Bull’s sports advisor doesn’t leave Yuki Tsunoda aside, who continues to make progress at AlphaTauri, where he arrived in 2021 and could enjoy an advantage, his nationality. « Yuki Tsunoda has constantly improved, he has managed to control most of his emotions and he is now capable of finishing a race in good condition », says Marko, who doesn’t hide that of course, « Honda is involved ».
So, it is possible that the Japanese engine manufacturer (RB’s partner until 2025) showcases its 23-year-old national driver, especially since Tsunoda participated in the Honda Formula Dream Project, with which he won the Japanese F4 championship in 2018.
Although he hasn’t achieved any remarkable results in F1 (a 4th place in Abu Dhabi in 2021), the Kanagawa native seems to be following the logical path after a season in F2 with Carlin, as part of the Red Bull Junior Team, and his progression to the feeder team, AlphaTauri.
…And another young driver following in Gasly’s footsteps?
Helmut Marko also mentions Liam Lawson, another member of the Red Bull young driver program who is following a similar path to a certain Pierre Gasly. « We have alternatives, for example Lawson, who is second in Japan, has a lot of success there, and has made a big leap forward in his development since he started racing there. »
The 21-year-old New Zealander is currently fighting for the title in Super Formula, the top single-seater championship in Japan, which Gasly competed in in 2017, the same year as his debut for Toro Rosso as a reserve driver. He was actually racing for Team Mugen, just like Lawson.
