Daniel Ricciardo does not expect Red Bull to part ways with him

This week, Liam Lawson is testing at Monza for Red Bull and Racing Bulls. If Helmut Marko has said that a place will be found for him in Formula 1 by next year, Daniel Ricciardo is the most in danger at the moment. Red Bull has already signed Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez, and Yuki Tsunoda for 2025. The last available spot will therefore be between the New Zealander, who has never been a regular driver, and the Australian, whose arrival in F1 dates back to 2011.

No need to panic for Daniel Ricciardo.

Liam Lawson quickly made a name for himself after replacing the Australian for five races last year. Although he only managed to score two points during this period, he consistently managed to finish in the Top 13. Since then, he is among the many sought-after drivers. Recently, when Logan Sargeant left Williams, the British team tried to sign the young driver for the end of the season. Although the agreement with Red Bull did not take place, he was the team’s first choice.

Hired as a reserve and development driver for the reigning world champions, this year he did not have the opportunity to prove himself. In a recent interview with the media, Helmut Marko, head of the young driver program at Red Bull, confirmed that Liam Lawson would have a spot in 2025. However, the last available spot currently belongs to Daniel Ricciardo. Daniel Ricciardo has been on the hot seat for some time now. Despite being under the protection of Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull, his performances are far from matching those of his teammate. Yuki Tsunoda has scored ten points more than the Australian this season and his efforts have been widely praised by the team during the summer break.

If Daniel Ricciardo remains optimistic about his future with Red Bull, this did not prevent him from reflecting on the issue publicly. Earlier in the year, the driver had stated that he was not concerned about speculations. The reason: Racing Bulls is his only option. While he acknowledged the talent of the young New Zealander, the Australian is convinced that he will still be on the grid next year. With Liam Lawson’s rise and comments from Helmut Marko hinting at a change, the fight is far from over.

Performances that give him hope.

The Australian driver is facing tough competition this season, especially from his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. While Tsunoda has already been confirmed, Daniel Ricciardo is still awaiting a response for next year. However, he believes that as long as the performances are there, he shouldn’t have to worry. “I will continue to focus on myself. If I perform, they won’t have any reason to do anything. If I perform, everything is fine,” he commented in the media. “If I focus on myself, it shouldn’t affect me. Whatever anyone says doesn’t matter. What matters is what my hands and feet do in the cockpit.”

Despite the external pressure surrounding his future, the Racing Bulls driver remains confident. On several occasions already, he had confirmed being quite proud of his current season. He also emphasized that he never felt this pressure from Red Bull. “I have not felt any unreasonable pressure, I have not had someone taking me by the shoulder to lead me into a room saying, ‘Do this, otherwise…’,” he said. “Perhaps difficult discussions are not necessary. I have known Helmut for a long time. We all know what is expected. Did he put additional pressure on me or was he unreasonable? No,” he added.

Although Red Bull is often ruthless when it comes to decisions about its drivers, Daniel Ricciardo seems calm. He is not the only driver in danger at the moment. With Sergio Pérez under surveillance, he could even consider a promotion within the main team. While waiting for the results of the tests of Liam Lawson for Pirelli, the Australian can take a break. Even if his future will be decided in the coming weeks, the grid must above all remain focused on Baku.