Daniel Ricciardo is embroiled in a significant power struggle within the Red Bull Racing team, with team principal Christian Horner firmly in his corner. Despite a disappointing start to the current Formula One season, Horner’s support for the Australian driver remains unwavering.
Ricciardo, who has yet to secure a top-10 finish this season, has been under scrutiny over his future in F1. Heading into the 2024 campaign, he was seen as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez, whose contract with Red Bull expires at the end of the year. However, Ricciardo’s performance has fallen short of expectations, leaving him four places behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda in the standings.
The Silverstone test & why Horner backs Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo’s return to Red Bull Racing as a reserve driver marked the beginning of a remarkable comeback story in Formula One. After parting ways with McLaren, Ricciardo found himself back at Red Bull, albeit in a supporting role. It was a move that set in motion a series of events that would eventually lead him to a race seat with Alpha Tauri (now Racing Bulls) and a potential shot at a Red Bull Racing seat alongside Max Verstappen.
A key moment in Ricciardo’s resurgence came during a test session at Silverstone in 2023. At the historic circuit, Ricciardo had the opportunity to demonstrate his continued speed and skill behind the wheel of a Red Bull car. The test followed the British Grand Prix, providing a direct comparison to the competitive lap times set during the race weekend.
Ricciardo’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He posted a lap time that would have placed him on the front row of the grid, right next to Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion. This impressive display of speed and precision did not go unnoticed within the Red Bull camp and the wider Formula One community.
It was straight after this test, Ricciardo was parachuted into the sister Red Bull team to replace the struggling Nyck de Vries midseason.
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Sergio Perez’s struggles
During this time, Sergio Perez, Ricciardo’s potential rival for the Red Bull seat, was going through a difficult period in his career. Perez had struggled to qualify well for several races, including the British Grand Prix. His performance was particularly inconsistent, and he was unable to match the pace and dominance of his team-mate, Verstappen.
Perez’s struggles were a major factor in Red Bull’s driver line-up discussions. Despite his occasional flashes of brilliance, his inability to consistently deliver results put him under the microscope. This period of struggle opened the door for Ricciardo to re-establish himself as a viable contender for a race seat within the Red Bull family.
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Securing the Alpha Tauri seat
The turning point for Ricciardo came when his outstanding test performance at Silverstone caught the attention of Red Bull’s decision-makers. It was widely believed that his speed and competitive lap times were instrumental in securing him a seat at Alpha Tauri, Red Bull’s sister team.
The move to Alpha Tauri was seen as a crucial step for Ricciardo to prove his mettle and demonstrate his potential for a return to Red Bull Racing. By winning a seat at Alpha Tauri, Ricciardo was given the opportunity to prove his mettle in competitive race conditions, providing him with a platform to remind everyone of his talent and determination.
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Reuniting with Max Verstappen
The possibility of Ricciardo returning to Red Bull Racing and reuniting with Max Verstappen has been the subject of much speculation and anticipation. The duo had previously formed a formidable partnership at Red Bull, and many fans and analysts believed that Ricciardo’s experience and aggressive driving style would complement Verstappen’s exceptional talent.
Ricciardo’s return to Alpha Tauri was seen as a proving ground. If he could put in strong performances and consistently score points, it would strengthen his case for a return to Red Bull Racing.
Unfortunately for Ricciardo, he is making the decision less straightforward than last year as Sergio Perez has improved his qualifying consistency against Verstappen, while Daniel has struggled to achieve many good results in 2024 against team mate Yuki Tsonoda.
Tsunoda’s form and Red Bull’s stance against the Japanese driver
Tsunoda has been a consistent points scorer this season, with his standout performance coming at the Australian Grand Prix, Ricciardo’s home race. Despite his strong form, reports from the BBC suggest that Tsunoda has little to no chance of securing a seat at Red Bull.
The Japanese driver is said to be undervalued by the Red Bull hierarchy, prompting him to explore options outside of the Austrian constructor.
Ricciardo, on the other hand, despite his underwhelming performance, continues to have significant supporters within the Red Bull camp, most notably Horner, no doubt buoyed by the infamous Silverstone test (in a very good car), along with simulator work over the last 18 months.
This ongoing saga highlights a power struggle within Red Bull headquarters, with Horner’s decision to back Ricciardo facing opposition.
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The internal battle with Marko
Helmut Marko, a long-time advisor to the team, favours reserve driver Liam Lawson for the Racing Bulls seat. However, any influence Marko once had over decision-making at Red Bull appears to have diminished following a controversial incident involving Horner.
An internal civil war reportedly erupted at Red Bull after an unnamed employee made allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Horner. Although Horner vehemently denied the allegations and was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent investigation, the fallout from the controversy appears to have weakened Marko’s position within the team.
Horner’s dominance and Ricciardo’s future
Despite the internal conflict, Horner remains the dominant figure at Red Bull, a team that has won the Constructors’ Championship six times. This internal dynamic underlines the complexity of the power structure within the team and the challenges facing Ricciardo as he seeks to secure his place.
Certainly, it is now well known that the Thai shareholding of Red Bull as a brand have 100% backed the British team principal.
Ricciardo will have another opportunity to prove his worth as the Formula One circus heads to Canada this weekend. The Canadian Grand Prix will be followed by a week’s break before the calendar resumes with back-to-back weekends in Spain and Austria.
The ongoing power struggle within Red Bull Racing highlights the wider strategic decisions the team must make. Ricciardo’s future, Perez’s contract status and the potential promotion of reserve drivers such as Liam Lawson are all crucial elements in this unfolding drama.
The situation at Red Bull illustrates the intense pressure and high stakes of the world of Formula One, where team dynamics and individual performances can make or break careers and championship results.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
