Daniel Ricciardo has responded to feedback from Dr. Helmut Marko suggesting that he could possibly be changed by Liam Lawson in 2025, and even earlier, at Visa Money App RB.
Ricciardo solely returned to Scuderia AlphaTauri (now RB) for the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, and missed a big a part of the 2023 season as a consequence of damage, the place Lawson raced in his place, placing in a number of spectacular performances.
Since returning to the Oracle Purple Bull Racing household, Ricciardo has loved a combination bag of outcomes. Some have been extraordinarily spectacular such because the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix and the 2024 Miami Grand Prix Dash, the place he secured a fourth place end, however these have additionally been blended with some detached performances, the place he’s struggled for tempo.
Yuki Tsunoda is 10 factors forward of Ricciardo within the World Drivers Championship however because the Australian’s chassis was switched on the Japanese Grand Prix, there hasn’t been a lot to separate the 2 by way of on monitor efficiency.
It hasn’t been the return to the Purple Bull household that Ricciardo wished with Sergio Pérez having his contract prolonged with the primary staff lately, that means his solely likelihood to remain inside Purple Bull is through the one remaining RB seat for 2025, with Tsunoda already tied right down to a deal.
Earlier this week, Purple Bull advisor, Marko urged that the Austrian model’s shareholders have a want to see a younger driver built-in into the second staff, however it has been mentioned prior to now by senior figures that RB ought to transfer in a distinct course. Ricciardo was a key half in growing the RB01, which has allowed the staff to already surpass its 2023 factors whole.
Talking on media day forward of the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, Ricciardo responded to Marko: “I’ve turn out to be actually good at not studying issues. I really didn’t find out about it till I used to be instructed after I acquired right here. I don’t really feel a technique or one other about it.
“I nonetheless know that the overriding factor on this sport is efficiency, and that’s it. That’s what is going to give me my finest likelihood of staying right here, I do know that. It’s not going to be my smile or anything. It’s the on-track stuff.
“I’ve clearly acquired an excellent alternative, I say till the summer season break, I don’t suppose that’s a deadline, however that’s clearly the place you have a look at for the primary half of the season. I’m attempting to do what I can and clearly assist my trigger. I look again at Barcelona, and it’s laborious to get excited a few fifteenth, however really I used to be actually pleased with my race.
“So I’d say it’s a minimum of now two higher weekends in a row. That’s what I’ve definitely had bother doing this yr, is having a form of string of excellent outcomes. Two isn’t sufficient in fact, a minimum of for the place I need to be. Now we’ve two extra forward. I undoubtedly have an opportunity to get into the summer season break with some momentum.
“And on the Helmut [Marko] stuff, truthfully, it’s positive. It doesn’t change what I’m going to do.”
Whereas Nyck de Vries solely lasted 10 races final season, his performances weren’t wherever the extent that Ricciardo has been performing. Regardless of having a troublesome begin, the 34-year-old has proven his class at instances and the previous couple of weeks have been an enchancment.
Ricciardo isn’t apprehensive in regards to the prospect of being changed by Lawson, and is hoping to “change the narrative” with two good outcomes on the upcoming race weekends in Austria and Silverstone.
“I’m presently within the race seat, so I’ve acquired to do all the pieces I can to manage the issues that I can. If I kick a** right here, if I kick a** at Silverstone, then I feel the narrative can change. I feel I clearly should personal that and be on high of what I can do.
“I’m positive qualifying fifth in Montreal made Helmut smile. If I can try this a number of extra instances, then I’m positive I’ll make him smile. It’s nonetheless so closely on efficiency, and yeah, simply preserve centered on that.”
Ricciardo has reiterated that there hasn’t been any strain positioned on him, and the assist round him from senior figures in each Purple Bull and RB has been unwavering.
“There hasn’t been any strain, ultimatum, nothing like that. I’ve been within the sport a very long time, I do know that if I get my a** kicked each weekend, in some unspecified time in the future, somebody shall be like ‘hey mate, step it up, in any other case’ however I haven’t had that.
“I mentioned, I’m conscious that having an excellent race on occasion isn’t adequate, but in addition not the place I need to be. I don’t need to have an odd excessive and a bunch of lows.
“I feel I’ve had good assist from, clearly you talked about Christian [Horner], however from Laurent [Mekies], from everybody.
“They’re doing what they will, clearly, however then in some unspecified time in the future, I’m the one within the automotive and I’ve acquired to push that proper throttle a bit tougher.”
Following the rumours, sports activities publication Sportskeeda reached out to a Purple Bull spokesperson and so they confirmed that there shall be, “No change to driver line up for the foreseeable.”
