Last Updated on September 24 2024, 9:35 pm

The Formula 1 paddock could be witnessing the end of an era as Daniel Ricciardo, the ever-popular Australian driver, potentially made his final appearance in the sport during the Singapore Grand Prix. Finishing 18th after a strategic decision to switch to soft tyres late in the race, Ricciardo’s future in the sport remains shrouded in ambiguity, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning what lies ahead. Indeed the 2025 situation actually remains as static as before with an underperforming Sergio Perez very much in line for removal or retirement. 

As speculation grows regarding his replacement, former F1 driver and renowned commentator Martin Brundle weighed in, expressing disappointment with the manner in which Ricciardo’s possible departure is being handled.

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Controversial Final Lap in Singapore

Ricciardo’s race in Singapore was marked by a controversial decision towards the end of the event, which saw the veteran driver pit for a third time to put on a set of soft tyres, allowing him to set the fastest lap of the race.

While this move added a bit of flair to what had otherwise been a subdued performance from Ricciardo, it stirred controversy within the paddock.

His fastest lap, albeit impressive, came at the expense of race-winner Lando Norris, who was denied the bonus point for fastest lap—a factor that many saw as potentially decisive in the championship fight. Red Bull’s decision to utilise Ricciardo in this manner sparked accusations of using AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s sister team, to the advantage of Max Verstappen, who is in the thick of the Drivers’ Championship battle.

Yet, despite this flash of brilliance, the result could be little more than a fleeting high point in what may well be Ricciardo’s final Formula 1 race. Rumours are swirling that the Australian could be replaced by Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson, who impressed during his stand-in appearances last season.

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Martin Brundle: Ricciardo Deserved Better

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding Ricciardo’s future, one voice that has resonated strongly is that of Martin Brundle. The former F1 driver turned broadcaster has been vocal in his criticism of how Ricciardo’s potential exit has been handled, describing it as “confusing” and “half-hearted.”

Writing in his Sky Sports column, Brundle lamented the way Ricciardo’s send-off has been approached, particularly given the driver’s popularity with fans and his long-standing career in the sport.

“It was Daniel’s last race in F1 for a while, and perhaps forever. It was a rather half-hearted and confusing exit from the team perspective,” Brundle wrote.

“The fans rewarded him with driver of the day as a farewell present, and that leaves him with a tally of 257 starts, 8 wins, 3 poles, and 32 podiums. And an awful lot of smiles and happy fans.”

Brundle’s sentiment reflects a broader feeling within the F1 community that Ricciardo, a driver who has often been a fan favourite and a lively presence in the paddock, deserved a more fitting farewell. Whether or not this is truly Ricciardo’s final race remains to be seen, but if it is, the underwhelming nature of his exit has left many disappointed.

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Uncertain Future Amidst Sponsorship Ties

Ricciardo’s potential departure is made all the more complicated by his close ties to many of Red Bull’s key sponsors, particularly in the US market. With the next race taking place in Austin, Texas—a significant location for Red Bull’s sponsorship engagements—there is a glimmer of hope that Ricciardo could still be in the driver’s seat.

Visa and CashApp, two of Red Bull’s major partners, have heavily featured Ricciardo in their marketing campaigns, making a sudden exit in Singapore all the more perplexing.

The ambiguity surrounding Red Bull’s plans only adds to the speculation. While no official announcement has been made, many believe that Liam Lawson will step into Ricciardo’s seat for the upcoming races, especially given contractual discussions within Red Bull’s driver programme. The lack of clarity has left Ricciardo’s future hanging in the balance, with many still hoping that he could return, even if only for a final send-off at one of Red Bull’s most high-profile events in the US.

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Ricciardo’s Regret: Unfulfilled Potential

For Ricciardo, the pain of leaving Formula 1 may be compounded by a sense of unfulfilled potential. After rejoining Red Bull in 2022 to replace the underperforming Nyck de Vries, Ricciardo’s return to the grid was viewed as a final opportunity to secure his place at the pinnacle of the sport. He had hopes of eventually returning to the main Red Bull team, where he had experienced his most successful years, but so far, his performances have failed to overshadow those of teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

Throughout his career, Ricciardo’s moves to teams like Renault and McLaren often came with the hope of fighting at the front, yet neither stint produced the consistency required to regularly challenge for podiums or victories.

His career, while studded with memorable moments and stunning victories, has been marked by a lack of competitive machinery since leaving Red Bull the first time.

With the rise of young talents like Lawson, Ricciardo’s place on the grid looks increasingly tenuous. Lawson’s performances during his six-race stint last year, stepping in for Ricciardo after the Australian’s injury at the Dutch Grand Prix, caught the attention of many, leading to speculation that Red Bull may look to the future by giving the younger driver a permanent seat.

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Ricciardo to replace Perez in 2025? 

As the 2024 Formula One season approaches, speculation surrounding the future of Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing has intensified. While Perez currently sits alongside reigning world champion Max Verstappen, concerns over his recent performances have led to growing rumours that Australian Daniel Ricciardo could be in line to replace him as early as 2025.

Adding to the uncertainty, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has expressed doubts about Perez’s form, while internal pressure is mounting from Red Bull’s junior driver programme.

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Perez’s struggles under scrutiny

Sergio Perez has come under increasing pressure after a difficult season, with his struggles highlighted by Dr Helmut Marko following the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Perez started the race on the front row but slipped down the order, eventually finishing eighth before being promoted to seventh following the disqualification of George Russell. Marko was openly critical, suggesting that Perez had “completely collapsed” during the race, casting further doubt on his ability to remain competitive.

Despite this, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has publicly backed Perez, stating during a team debrief that Perez remains a valued member of Red Bull Racing.

“Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver, despite recent speculation, and we look forward to seeing him after the summer break on tracks where he has previously excelled,” Horner reassured the team. However, that statement seems to come with a caveat: Perez will need to perform consistently in the remaining races of the season to secure his seat for 2025.

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Performance problems continue after summer break

Perez’s results since the summer break have done little to inspire confidence. He has struggled to match the performances of 2023, when he regularly finished on or near the podium. Most notably, Perez was involved in a dramatic crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, narrowly missing out on a top-three finish before being retired following a collision with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, which was ruled a racing incident.

Meanwhile, there have been rumours that Daniel Ricciardo, who made a brief return to the Red Bull fold last year with AlphaTauri, could still be in contention to replace Perez if the Mexican’s form does not improve. Despite unofficial declarations that Ricciardo’s time with Red Bull’s junior team is coming to an end, his name continues to be linked with a possible return to the senior team.

 

 

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Dr Helmut Marko’s push for Liam Lawson

Complicating matters is Dr Helmut Marko’s ongoing push to promote one of Red Bull’s young talents, Liam Lawson. Lawson impressed last year when he stepped in for Ricciardo after injuring his hand in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. Marko has repeatedly lobbied for Lawson to be given a chance at one of Red Bull’s four F1 seats and his influence over Red Bull’s driver development programme remains strong.

In a post-race interview at Barcelona earlier this season, Marko said: “The goal was for [Ricciardo] to be considered for Red Bull Racing with exceptional performances. That seat now belongs to Sergio Pérez, so that plan is no longer valid. We need to get a young driver in there soon. That would be Liam Lawson.”

Marko’s comments suggest a clear preference for promoting youth, with Lawson seemingly next in line for a seat at either Red Bull Racing or VCARB. This has led to a growing internal debate about the balance between experienced drivers like Ricciardo and the need to develop younger talent.

 

 

 

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Red Bull CEO backs Ricciardo for longer stay

While Marko has made the case for Lawson, Red Bull CEO Peter Bayer has offered a different perspective, arguing that Ricciardo’s experience could be invaluable to the team. Speaking during the Spa weekend before the summer break, Bayer highlighted Ricciardo’s potential as a mentor to younger drivers such as Yuki Tsunoda.

“In the long run, having an experienced teammate is not such a bad thing for Tsunoda. It is the famous big picture issue,” said Bayer.

Bayer’s comments raise questions about the team’s strategy for the future. While Tsunoda has been given a new contract for the 2024 season, Ricciardo’s future remains uncertain. However, Red Bull have yet to confirm all of their driver slots for 2025, leaving open the possibility that Ricciardo could be retained, either as a permanent fixture at AlphaTauri or even as Perez’s replacement at Red Bull Racing.

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Perez’s seat at risk despite Horner’s support?

Although Christian Horner has publicly backed Perez, the Mexican’s inconsistent performances raise questions about how long Red Bull can afford to keep him in the seat. Perez’s results since the summer break have been underwhelming, with just two podiums compared to five podiums and two wins before the summer break.

If Perez’s form does not improve in the remaining races, Red Bull may be forced to reconsider their options. As F1 journalist Lawrence Barretto writes for F1.com,

“Ricciardo would likely get the nod” if Perez’s struggles continue. However, the ongoing debate between Marko’s preference for youth and Horner’s backing of experienced drivers leaves the situation unresolved.”

 

 

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The role of Red Bull’s young driver programme

Dr Helmut Marko has consistently championed Red Bull’s young drivers, and his latest comments suggest that Perez’s time may be up. In an insightful article for *Speedweek* just before the summer break, Marko praised the performances of several young drivers, including 17-year-old Isack Hadjar, currently leading the F2 standings.

“We will continue to analyse and evaluate the performance of the Red Bull juniors during the summer break,” Marko revealed.

Marko’s emphasis on nurturing young talent suggests that Red Bull may not hesitate to replace an underperforming Perez if a junior driver, such as Liam Lawson, continues to impress. With Red Bull facing a September deadline to offer Lawson a seat for 2025, Marko’s desire to avoid losing the New Zealander adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

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Could Ricciardo step in?

As Red Bull grapple with their driver line-up, the possibility of Ricciardo returning to the main team remains alive. While Liam Lawson may be close to securing a permanent seat at VCARB, Red Bull’s desire to keep the New Zealander within their ranks does not necessarily rule out Ricciardo stepping in to replace Perez at Red Bull Racing. A year or so at the junior team would be ideal before promotion to Red Bull Racing with Verstappen.

With Perez’s future uncertain and his performance continuing to cause concern, Ricciardo’s experience and loyalty to Red Bull could see him called upon once again to plug that gap. Such a plan would also answer the seemingly poor Formula 1 send off for the Australian.

While nothing is set in stone, the scenario of Ricciardo re-entering the fray and potentially partnering Verstappen in 2025 is looking increasingly likely.

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MORE F1 NEWS: Red Bull accused of a “lack of respect”

Red Bull Racing have proven to be a laser sharp Formula One team when it comes to winning races and championships unlike McLaren who have gifted Max Verstappen ten points this season by falling to prioritise Lando Norris in his chase down of the world champion drivers’ lead this year.

In their nineteen year history Red Bull have ditched more drivers mid-season than any other team since 2005. Daniel Kvyat was bumped down from his race seat alongside Max Verstappen as Alex Albon was promoted during the 2019 season.

Nyck de Vries suffered a similar fate in 2023 when after just ten races in the V-CARB team he was replaced by Ricciardo for the remainder of the season. Now it appears Ricciardo too is set to be ditched from V-CARB with six race weekends remaining in the 2024 competition…READ MORE ON THIS STORY