Daniel Ricciardo not yet ready to give up his place at Racing Bulls

Daniel Ricciardo seems to have regained his former form. Honey Badger, who has eight Formula 1 victories, has just finished three of the last six Grand Prix in the points. The last race, in Spa, was one of them, with a tenth place secured following George Russell’s disqualification.

These good performances allowed him to keep his seat at Racing Bulls for the rest of the season despite the pressure from Liam Lawson, who is still waiting for his turn. The New Zealander had already replaced the Australian when he got injured during free practice in Zandvoort last year, and had performed very well. He even secured a ninth place in the race in Singapore. However, Ricciardo’s future within the Red Bull structure remains uncertain, given recent statements from Helmut Marko, head of the team’s young driver program.

A willingness to make Racing Bulls the junior team of Red Bull.

The Austrian recently suggested that Red Bull should return to its roots, implying that it should give more chances to its young drivers. It has not changed three of the four drivers of the brand since 2021, despite the disappointing results of Sergio Pérez and Daniel Ricciardo at the beginning of the season.

Moreover, the Austrian structure is fortunate to have very promising young talents among its ranks, with Liam Lawson at the forefront, to whom Helmut Marko has guaranteed a seat next year.

Promising and high-performing young people in the lower categories

Behind him, other young people knock on the door. Starting with the French Isack Hadjar, a brilliant leader of the Formula 2 championship with his Campos team and winner of the main race in Belgium. Finally, even if the choice may be risky (Red Bull having already tried this experience in 2015 with a certain Max Verstappen), Red Bull could decide to turn to its F3 driver.

The Briton Arvin Lindblad, who impresses with his rookie season, already has four victories this season. Including a double sprint race and long race at Silverstone.

If Helmut Marko’s statements materialize, Daniel Ricciardo’s future in Formula 1 could darken. At 35, he is no longer part of the juniors of the Milton Keynes team. The main person concerned has also left the door open if he no longer feels capable of competing in the field.

« I also know what it’s like to be a junior, and a hungry young driver who wants to have a chance in this sport. I’ve been there and it doesn’t seem so far away to me. I also respect that. So, the day I feel like I’m sitting in a seat I can’t fill, I won’t be comfortable with myself. I wouldn’t want to be there. I don’t want to prevent someone from having their chance. I respect the journey too much,” he declared. The Australian does not rule out leaving Formula 1 definitively, as he had to give up his seat earlier last season after a very difficult period at McLaren.

A speed nevertheless regained

But his recent results and his similar, if not even faster, pace than his teammate Yuki Tsunoda give him hope and show that he still has his place in the discipline. In any case, he is not ready to give it up for the moment.

At the moment… I feel that this is my last chance, so that’s how I see it. I will give everything I have, and the juniors will have their chance and their time, but I don’t feel ready to give it to them. If my results are really bad and whatever happens, then so be it and it will happen. Personally, I don’t think I’m there yet. They will have this chance – but not yet.

The opportunity had been offered to him by Red Bull last year after replacing Nyck de Vries. His good performances demonstrate that he is still a performing driver and the bad patch that Sergio Pérez is going through could lead to an incredible turnaround, with a driver close to the exit but who could eventually become Max Verstappen’s future teammate in 2025…provided that he does not in turn cause a thunderbolt.