SUZUKA, JAPAN – APRIL 5: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App RB walk in the Paddock before practice for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka International Circuit on April 5, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Ricciardo’s redemption story is well known in the world of Formula 1. After being rejected by McLaren, his connections and marketing opened the door for him once again. From the start, Red Bull made it clear that Ricciardo’s main goal was to reclaim his position as Max Verstappen’s teammate, and he wasted no time in expressing his desire to do so.
However, it seems that the Ricciardo of the past, the one who was a force to be reckoned with during his days at Red Bull, is a thing of the past. The 34-year-old Australian had a second chance in F1, but it came at the expense of Nyck de Vries, a rookie who was quickly replaced. Unfortunately, Ricciardo has also struggled to keep up with his younger teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.
Despite his delusional ambitions of reclaiming his place at Red Bull, Ricciardo has been lucky. Perhaps he has been protected by people like Christian Horner, who fought to bring him back to the team at the expense of De Vries. However, this plan clearly backfired as Red Bull recently extended Sergio Perez’s contract for another two years, showing that they have little confidence in both Ricciardo and Tsunoda.
The main goal of Red Bull’s acquisition of Minardi and the creation of Scuderia Toro Rosso was to develop young drivers who could eventually move up to the main team. This formula worked in the past for drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, and even Ricciardo. However, it seems that Ricciardo’s time as a Red Bull driver may be coming to an end.
In an interview with the Austrian news outlet Kleine Zeitung, Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko stated that the shareholders have made it clear that the team is intended to be a junior team and that they need to start prioritizing young drivers. Marko mentioned Liam Lawson as a potential candidate for the position, emphasizing that the chances of Ricciardo returning to Red Bull are practically nil.
Marko explained that Ricciardo’s performance needed to be exceptional if he wanted any hope of securing a place at Red Bull. Unfortunately, he was unable to surpass his teammate Tsunoda, despite being close in terms of performance. It remains to be seen how this situation will develop in the future.
With Red Bull’s spots guaranteed until the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season, it seems logical that the younger driver, Liam Lawson, would be the preferred choice. Lawson is currently a reserve driver for Red Bull and has the option to drive for another team if he does not secure a place at Red Bull by 2025. Marko expressed his interest in seeing Lawson in Formula 1 this year to further evaluate his potential.
It seems that the transition from Ricciardo to Lawson may happen earlier than expected, as reported by the Austrian media. The situation is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
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