Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s chief advisor, has tried to put to rest swirling speculations that Daniel Ricciardo faces a two-race ultimatum to improve performance or risk being replaced by Liam Lawson by the time of the Miami GP. German media reports highlighted Marko’s refutation of these claims, originally stemming from the New Zealand press and fueled by Ricciardo’s inability to match the pace of Yuki Tsunoda in the 2024 season so far.
In response to inquiries, Marko clarified the confusion might stem from Red Bull’s decision to give Ayumu Iwasa, a promising Japanese talent, some time behind the wheel of Ricciardo’s car during Friday practice at the Japanese GP. This move is a part of the team’s strategy but not an indication of Ricciardo’s immediate replacement, the 80-year-old Austrian said.
Concerning Ricciardo’s future, Marko remains cautious, stating, “we have to wait and see.” He acknowledges the challenges Ricciardo faces, hinting at an underlying issue beyond mere driving skills, “Every driver sees the other’s data, so there are no secrets. They have the same car. Everything is the same. Daniel has proved in the past that he is a fast driver, so it is something mental. A mental problem.”
Ricciardo refutes suggestions that his mindset is the issue, firmly stating, “My head is not full of nonsense or anything like that.”
Despite speculation, Ricciardo continues to receive support from within the Red Bull team, formerly known as Alpha Tauri and Toro Rosso. Jody Egginton, the technical director, commends Ricciardo’s dedication, saying he is “working hard” to “make the car more to his liking,” expressing confidence that Ricciardo will “be up to speed in the next few races.”
The narrative of Ricciardo’s dwindling prospects is further complicated by Sergio Perez’s position for 2025, which is rumoured to already be secured – and bolstered by significant extra backing from his Mexican sponsors. Yet, Marko delays any final decisions regarding the team’s lineup until summer, emphasizing that “The decision on the lineup for next year has been postponed. But Tsunoda must improve even more if he can be considered.”
Former F1 driver Christijan Albers expresses confusion over Red Bull’s hesitance to promote reserve driver Liam Lawson immediately, questioning, “I don’t understand what the fear is about this choice. I just don’t understand it. Let’s be honest – Lawson beat Tsunoda in those few races last year. And Tsunoda has consistently been stronger than Nyck de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo.”
Albers criticizes Ricciardo for his perceived lack of focus, suggesting that the driver’s jovial demeanor and external engagements may be detracting from his performance on the track, “What irritates me a little bit is that he keeps laughing and doing activities other than driving. Just focus on the racing. Only then can you start being funny again. As a driver, you want to go into hiding until you have beaten the others, then you can start showing yourself again. With him, it’s the other way around. All those activities are just painful. I just don’t think it’s fair. Lawson just needs to be given a chance, and he doesn’t get one. But the whole purpose of that team is to train and promote young talent.”
GMM
