Daniel Ricciardo remains optimistic amid Red Bull uncertainty and car challenges – Daniel Ricciardo is at a crucial crossroads in his Formula One career. With only one seat left in Red Bull Racing for 2025, the Australian driver is facing mounting pressure from within the team and from rising star Liam Lawson. However, Ricciardo has refused to be distracted by the speculation and remains confident that his on-track performances will secure his place in one of the most competitive teams on the grid.
As well as external pressure, Ricciardo also faces significant challenges with the team’s car development, with recent updates proving problematic. While Red Bull’s junior team Racing Bulls (AlphaTauri) has struggled to find form this season, Ricciardo continues to believe that his driving will ultimately keep him in contention for the remaining seat.
Lawson, currently testing for Red Bull at Monza, has shown immense potential and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has suggested he could be on the grid by 2025. Ricciardo, however, is unperturbed by these developments and remains focused on the task at hand.
With Red Bull having already confirmed Max Verstappen, Sergio Pérez and Yuki Tsunoda for next season, Ricciardo knows the competition for the final spot will be fierce. However, he believes his experience and form will make the difference.
“If I perform, they have no reason to do anything,” Ricciardo said in a recent interview, expressing his belief that his future will be determined by his results on track.
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Tsunoda criticises, Ricciardo waits his turn with upgrades
Adding to the tension surrounding his future, Ricciardo is also grappling with the performance of his car. Red Bull recently introduced a floor upgrade for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but the results were less than encouraging. Yuki Tsunoda, who was the only driver to be fitted with the new parts, criticised the upgrade, citing difficulties with balance and grip during the race weekend.
Tsunoda’s frustration was compounded by a collision with Nico Hulkenberg which forced him to retire early due to overheating problems. Despite the upgrade, Tsunoda’s performance was below par and the Japanese driver retired in Q1, unable to take advantage of the new development.
Meanwhile, Ricciardo, driving the old specification car, managed to out-qualify Tsunoda, but finished 13th after receiving a penalty for colliding with Hulkenberg later in the race. Despite these setbacks, Ricciardo remains eager to try out the upgraded parts for himself.
“Unless the team sees some strong negatives, the plan is to still run it in Baku,” Ricciardo commented when asked about the potential of the new package.
“I want to believe it can still be good because obviously the last one wasn’t too good for us.”
Ricciardo’s patience and open-mindedness reflects his experience and understanding of how F1 car development works. While Tsunoda was quick to criticise, Ricciardo knows it takes time to assess whether an upgrade really works.
“It’s something I’d definitely like to try and at least do one session and get a feel for it before maybe saying it’s not the one,” he said, signalling his intention to test the parts in future races before drawing any conclusions.
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This season has not been easy for Red Bull in terms of car development. The team has struggled to extract performance from its updates, with the Spanish Grand Prix package also proving problematic at the start of the year.
At Monza it was hoped that the new floor upgrade would be a step forward, but Tsunoda’s criticism has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the changes. The team has struggled to find the right balance between downforce and grip, a critical factor in performance, particularly at high speed circuits like Monza.
But Ricciardo remains optimistic. He understands that car upgrades are not always straightforward, and that it sometimes takes time to unlock the full potential of new parts.
“Maybe it’s just that we haven’t quite got it right to take advantage of all the grip,” he explained.
“I want to believe it can still be good, but obviously only Yuki has the experience with it, and he was very vocal about having a tough weekend.”
Part of the challenge could also be attributed to the unique conditions at Monza. The track was resurfaced ahead of the Italian Grand Prix and the new asphalt caused tyre graining problems for many teams. Combined with the low downforce set-up required for Monza, these factors may have made it difficult for Tsunoda to take full advantage of the new package.
“A combination of low downforce and a new asphalt means it is quite difficult to find grip and put laps together,” Ricciardo noted, suggesting the conditions may have played a role in Tsunoda’s struggles.
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Ricciardo’s calm amid Red Bull’s ruthless driver decisions
While Ricciardo deals with the technical challenges of his car, he is also aware of Red Bull’s notoriously ruthless approach to driver management. The team, led by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, has a history of making quick decisions about its driver line-up.
Ricciardo himself was once on the receiving end of those decisions during his first stint with Red Bull. However, the Australian remains calm and confident that his performances will dictate his future with the team.
Ricciardo’s long-standing relationship with Horner and his experience in F1 could give him an edge in the battle for the final seat. Although Lawson is a rising star and Tsunoda has outperformed Ricciardo in points this season, Ricciardo’s pedigree as a race winner and ability to handle pressure could work in his favour.
“I haven’t felt any undue pressure,” said Ricciardo when asked about the situation. “Nobody has taken me aside and given me an ultimatum. I know what’s expected and Helmut hasn’t been unreasonable.”
That level of composure has allowed Ricciardo to focus on his driving, even as speculation about his future grows.
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Lawson’s rise and the battle within
While Ricciardo remains focused on his own performances, he cannot ignore the growing threat of Liam Lawson. The young New Zealander has quickly made a name for himself, impressing during his stint as a substitute driver and showing strong form in testing. Recent comments from Helmut Marko suggest Lawson will have a seat in F1 by 2025, putting Ricciardo’s future in jeopardy.
However, Ricciardo remains philosophical about the situation, recognising that the only thing he can control is his own performance.
At the same time, Ricciardo faces competition from teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who has scored ten more points this season and has been praised by the team for his efforts. Tsunoda’s strong performances have all but secured his place in the team, leaving Ricciardo to battle it out with Lawson for the remaining seat.
However, Ricciardo is not letting the competition distract him.
“What matters is what my hands and feet are doing in the cockpit,” he said, stressing that his focus is solely on his own driving.
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Looking forward: Baku and beyond
As Ricciardo prepares for the next race in Baku, he remains determined to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. Testing the new car upgrades and delivering strong performances will be key to securing his place at Red Bull. As the pressure mounts, Ricciardo’s experience, calm demeanour and willingness to adapt could be the factors that ultimately keep him on the grid.
Ricciardo knows that Red Bull’s decision-making process can be unforgiving, but he is ready to rise to the challenge. With Liam Lawson waiting in the wings and Yuki Tsunoda continuing to perform well, the battle for the final seat is far from over. But Ricciardo remains focused on the one thing that matters most: performance.
“If I concentrate on myself, everything will fall into place,” he insists.
As the season progresses, Daniel Ricciardo’s future with Red Bull is likely to be determined by a combination of his performances, the success of the car upgrades and the team’s long-term plans. For now, all eyes are on Baku, where Ricciardo will get his chance to test the new parts and prove that he is still among F1’s elite.
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