Daniel Ricciardo has cooled suggestions that Liam Lawson might replace him at the RB Formula 1 team in 2025, arguing that it “doesn’t change what I’m going to do”.
Earlier this week, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko disclosed that the Austrian brand’s shareholders desire to see a young driver integrated into its second-string squad.
RB has exercised an option to retain Yuki Tsunoda next season, meaning that either the incumbent Ricciardo or Red Bull reserve driver Lawson will miss out on a seat.
Ricciardo entered this term aiming to earn a return to the parent Red Bull setup, but he has failed to produce consistent results and resides 10 points behind Tsunoda.
With Red Bull locking down Sergio Perez to a renewed contract, Marko hinted that Ricciardo’s troubles could see him ousted to ensure Lawson is handed a promotion.
When asked what he thought about the comments Marko made earlier this week, Ricciardo replied: “So I’ve become really good at not reading things.
“I actually didn’t know about it until I was told when I got here. Look… it’s… I don’t feel one way or another about it.
“I still know that the overriding thing in this sport is performance, and that’s it. That’s what will give me my best chance of staying here, I know that.
“It’s not going to be my smile or anything else. It’s the on-track stuff.
“I’ve obviously got a good opportunity, I say until the summer break, I don’t think that’s a deadline, but that’s obviously where you look at for the first half of the season.
“Yeah, trying to do what I can and obviously help my cause. I look back at Barcelona, and it’s hard to get excited about a 15th, but actually I was really happy with my race.
“So I would say it’s at least now two better weekends in a row. That’s what I’ve certainly had trouble doing this year, is having a kind of string of good results.
“Two is not enough of course, at least for where I want to be. Now we have two more ahead. I definitely have a chance to get into the summer break with some momentum.
“And on the Helmut stuff, yeah honestly, it’s fine. It doesn’t change what I’m going to do.”
Ricciardo has also denied that he’s concerned that Lawson’s upcoming test at Imola in a previous F1 car could be a sign that Red Bull is angling to switch mid-season.
The eight-time F1 grand prix winner has acknowledged that a strong run up until the summer break would see the narrative around his campaign change in an instant.
“So I believe it’s been planned for a while, but in any case, it’s one of those ones where also, I think the older you get, you understand that control the controllables,” he said.
“If Liam goes and has an amazing test, like 100%, good for Liam, I’ve got no control over that, nor do I wish him poorly, not at all.
“I think I’m currently in the race seat, so I’ve got to do everything I can to control the things that I can.
“If I kick ass here, if I kick ass at Silverstone, then I think the narrative can change. I think I obviously have to own that and be on top of what I can do.
“I’m sure qualifying fifth in Montreal made Helmut smile.
“If I can do that a few more times, then I’m sure I’ll make him smile. It’s still so heavily on performance, and yeah, just keep focused on that.”
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner was the one who advocated Ricciardo’s comeback and the RB driver has clarified that he hasn’t been told his place is at risk.
Asked whether Horner had told him there was a danger he could lose his drive to Lawson, Ricciardo responded: “No, like, I haven’t heard anything.
“There hasn’t been any pressure, ultimatum, nothing like that.
“But I’m also, I’ve been in the sport a long time, I know that if I get my ass kicked every weekend, at some point, someone will be like ‘hey mate, step it up, otherwise’… but I haven’t had that.
“But, as I said, I’m aware that having a good race every so often isn’t good enough, but also not where I want to be. I don’t want to have an odd high and a bunch of lows.
“I think I’ve had good support from, obviously you mentioned Christian, but from Laurent [Mekies, RB Team Principal], from everyone.
“They’re doing what they can, obviously, but then at some point, I’m the one in the car and I’ve got to push that right throttle a bit harder.”
