Stay informed about all the biggest stories in Formula 1. Sign up here receive the Prime Tire newsletter in your mailbox every Monday and Friday.
SINGAPORE – Daniel Ricciardo is awaiting a decision on his future in Red Bull’s Formula 1 outfit after this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix amid speculation he may miss the season with RB.
After losing his McLaren seat at the end of 2022, eight-time grand prix winner Ricciardo returned to F1 midway through 2023 with Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, now known as RB. He quickly aimed to return to the senior Red Bull team, where he raced between 2014 and 2018.
But Ricciardo’s varied form this season has left him struggling to stay on the F1 grid for 2025 as Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson bids for a full-time move up.
Speaking on Thursday in Singapore, Ricciardo said he anticipated a decision on his and Lawson’s future after this race, saying that “contractually, our dates are almost coming into this window now.”
Ricciardo’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda is under contract for next year at RB, while Sergio Pérez also has a deal to stay at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen.
Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko has indicated in recent weeks that more details about Lawson’s future will follow in the weeks leading up to the US Grand Prix in Austin on October 18-20. It is understood that Lawson would be free to leave the Red Bull driver set-up unless he is given a full-time race seat for 2025.
Ahead of Singapore, speculation emerged that a decision on Lawson’s future could even lead to him stepping up before the end of the season to replace Ricciardo, who has scored one point in the last six races.
Ricciardo said he was mainly waiting for a decision on his future for 2025, but acknowledged the questions about the rest of this year.
“Basically, I’m waiting for a yes or no for ’25, and then yes, I’m aware of some talk and speculation about the rest of the season,” Ricciardo said in Singapore on Thursday.
“But that, for me at the moment, I am not aware of. The decision I expect is for next year. Obviously, crazy things have happened in this sport. I’m also not going to stand here too cocky and self-confident and, ‘Oh, yeah, yeah!’
“Like, I think I’ll be (in the car for the rest of the year), but we’ll see.”
Red Bull’s senior management and shareholders are set for talks in the gap between Singapore and Austin to discuss its driver plans for the rest of the season and 2025. Mark is known to be a big fan of Lawson, while Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has always wanted to give Ricciardo the time to find his form.
Lawson starred during his five-race cameo for Red Bull last year while filling in for the injured Ricciardo, but the team opted against promoting him to RB for 2024, sticking with Ricciardo and Tsunoda.
During Pérez’s mid-season struggles, speculation swirled that either Ricciardo or Lawson could be promoted to replace the Mexican veteran, but Red Bull decided that Pérez would see out the season in his current seat.
Ricciardo is 14th in the drivers’ championship with 12 points. (Rudy Carzzevoli/Getty Images)
Ricciardo said he received the same message – that “there will be no changes, split during the second half”, and to treat the rest of the season in a similar fashion to the pre-summer break race in which he he thought as some of the most important races for his F1 future.
Asked if there was a contractual situation where Singapore could be his final F1 race, Ricciardo replied: “I don’t think so, but I don’t want to stand here and be the lawyer either.
“I would say no, but also, we know how this sport works. People didn’t survive a season before. It’s nothing new in any way. So I also don’t want to be, ‘Oh, 100%, I’ll bet my whole house on it.’ I’m too long.”
Ricciardo noted how quickly the picture could change around his future, even from session to session.
“What’s crazy about the sport is, and this is me just talking about some s—, but I go and get a podium this weekend, and I’m probably the hottest thing in the sport,” Ricciardo said.
“Such is the merry-go-round we are on. I know it can change quickly. I’m aware things are heating up so to speak, but I just have to try to keep my head down this weekend, and yeah, kick some ass.”
When Ricciardo lost his F1 seat at the end of 2022, he had no plans to return to racing to see if his love for the sport would naturally rekindle. Not only did he find himself eager to return, but a test for Red Bull showed flashes of his old, grand prix-winning speed, leading to his return to the grid.
Ricciardo said that while he has fallen back in love with the sport since his return and still enjoys racing, his goal has always been to return to the front. It meant that if he lost his RB seat, he wouldn’t jump at any opportunity to just stay on the grid.
“When you’re not in the points, for sure, it’s less enjoyable,” Ricciardo said. “I am also 35 years old, I was at the front, I experienced the champagne. It’s like I don’t want to hang on to something that may never come true again. I must have had those conversations in my head.
“So yes. I wouldn’t say I would jump at any opportunity next year, that’s not the case. I would probably say peace.”
Featured photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
