Pink Bull workforce principal Christian Horner admits the choice to interchange Daniel Ricciardo with Liam Lawson is because of uncertainty over Sergio Perez’s declare to his seat in 2025.
Ricciardo made his remaining look for RB in Singapore, and Lawson will race for the workforce for the remaining six grands prix of the F1 season. That transfer is available in tandem with Perez having struggled for type for almost all of this yr, and Horner mentioned the occupant of the Pink Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen may change in 2025 regardless of Perez having a contract in place.
“After all in an ideal world that’s what we might have completed , however from a broader perspective we want solutions for the larger image by way of drivers,” Horner informed the F1 Nation podcast. “And with six races remaining it’s the right alternative to line Liam up alongside Yuki , to see how he performs over the remaining six grands prix.
“This goes past VCARB, it encompasses Pink Bull Racing. Clearly we have now a contract with Sergio for subsequent yr, however you’ve all the time bought to have a watch out by way of what comes subsequent. Is that going to be Liam? Or do we have to look outdoors the pool? Or will one of many different juniors step up within the fullness of time, whether or not it’s Isack Hadjar or Arvid Lindblad?”
When it was put to Horner that he has been extra ruthless with Ricciardo than he has been with Perez, the workforce principal mentioned Helmut Marko was eager to interchange the Australian far earlier within the season.
“I’ve completed my best to purchase him as a lot time within the automotive to permit him to ship, in any other case he would have been out of the automotive after Barcelona,” he mentioned.
“All of the drivers are underneath stress to ship, however the cause that Daniel was in that automotive was to get himself again right into a place to finally be there to select up the items if Checo didn’t ship. And the issue was they each had points with type at various occasions, Checo began the season very properly, very strongly, and Daniel was struggling. After which as Checo misplaced type, Daniel discovered a little bit of type, nevertheless it was by no means compelling sufficient to say ‘OK we must always swap the 2 drivers’.”
Horner mentioned his best state of affairs will likely be that Perez improves in order that he can retain his seat at Pink Bull in 2025, however he even hinted that Ricciardo may nonetheless be known as upon in future.
“Clearly Checo finds his type and rediscovers the form he was in originally of the yr and nothing modifications,” Horner mentioned. “However as we all know, on this enterprise two weeks is long-term.
“We’ve made it very clear that we would like to stay in an ambassadorial capability with the workforce, and naturally one by no means actually is aware of. I imply, if Liam doesn’t get the job completed, if Checo doesn’t get the job completed, we all know what Daniel’s functionality is.
“However I feel for him, he is aware of, on the age that he’s at, he’s had a fantastic profession. So many recollections. Essentially the most disgusting factor ever was consuming champagne out of his sweaty boot! However he made it his personal and he bought some unbelievable folks to drink the champagne from his sweaty shoe.”
