Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed their big plan. Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Marko and his team are thinking of appointing Liam Lawson as their recruit, which means now, Daniel Ricciardo’s seat is at risk. The Honey Badger’s future in F1 has been in darkness for quite some time. Considering his degrading performance with every race, Ricciardo must do something before it’s too late.
Meanwhile, Daniel has revealed that he somehow likes Helmut Marko‘s habit of ‘breathing down’ on his neck. “I still know that the most important thing in this sport is performance,” the Aussie stated, adding, “Thinking back to Barcelona, it’s difficult to be excited about a 15th place,” but overall, he had a good race. He admits to having struggled with a run of good results this year. And at the same, he knows that it is his lackluster performance so far that’s pushing him away from his Red Bull dream.
Daniel thinks when he finished eighth in Montreal, Marko’s face lit up with a smile. “If I can achieve similar results a few more times, I will make him smile again,” believes the 34-year-old. Currently, Marko’s priority is performance. If Ricciardo maintains consistency, there can be a slight chance he’ll stay with VCARB through 2024. Now, Ricciardo is aiming to focus on his performance more than ever, trying his best to keep alive the almost-deceased hope of returning to the parent team. Especially, now with Sergio Perez staying till 2026, the doors are indeed closing!
But, where does his future lie in F1? A lot of Ricciardo’s fans are concerned about his journey ahead. Moreover, Ricciardo doesn’t plan to choose any other team other than Red Bull. But what if there are no options at all?
Liam Lawson’s entry in VCARB could mean the end of Daniel Ricciardo’s future in F1
Most of Daniel Ricciardo’s critics believe that the man from Perth is ‘over’. A few reasons make up this big picture and his future isn’t looking great. First and foremost, his worst decision so far was to quit Red Bull in 2018. He seemed to have a valid reason back then, as he didn’t wish to be the No. 2 anymore. Had he stayed at Red Bull, he could’ve won a World Champion title [maybe]. Then, he continuously switched from one team to another and finally ended up at McLaren. He was the No. 2 at McLaren as well! Unfortunately, he was sacked within a year and took a sabbatical, only to return with VCARB [then Alpha Tauri]. And since his return to the sport, things have just gone downhill.
Lawson has previously replaced Ricciardo when he fractured his wrist last year. And to the eyes of experts, the rookie did a great job. Better than Ricciardo! It won’t be a surprise if this young man from New Zealand becomes Daniel Ricciardo‘s successor. This also means this might be the last time the Honey Badger will be racing on track.
At present, speculations have been building upon Ricciardo’s future in F1, and a probable replacement mid-season seems inevitable. How long can Daniel stop this from happening is something worth anticipating. With the Austrian Grand Prix ahead, Ricciardo will be under immense pressure to prove himself to Helmut Marko one last time. And God forbids, if he fails, then- game over. Do you think Daniel Ricciardo will be replaced mid-season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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