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SINGAPORE — Daniel Ricciardo expects a decision about his future within Red Bull’s Formula One setup after this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix amid speculation he may not see out the season with RB.
After losing his McLaren seat at the end of 2022, eight-time grand prix winner Ricciardo returned to F1 midway through 2023 with Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, now known as RB. He quickly set his sights on returning to the senior Red Bull team, where he raced between 2014 and 2018.
But Ricciardo’s fluctuating form this season has left him fighting to remain on the F1 grid for 2025 as Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson bids to step up full-time.
Speaking on Thursday in Singapore, Ricciardo said that he anticipated a decision about his and Lawson’s future to be made after this race, saying that “in terms of contracts, our dates pretty much come into this window now.”
Ricciardo’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is under contract for next year at RB, while Sergio Pérez also has a deal in place to remain at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen.
Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko has indicated in recent weeks that more details about Lawson’s future will follow in the weeks ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Oct. 18-20. It is understood that Lawson would be free to leave the Red Bull driver setup unless he is given a full-time race seat for 2025.
Ahead of Singapore, speculation emerged that a decision about Lawson’s future could even lead to him stepping up before the end of the season to replace Ricciardo, who has scored one point in the last six races.
Ricciardo said he chiefly expected a decision to be made about his future for 2025, but acknowledged the questions about the remainder of this year.
“Basically, I do expect a yes or a no for ’25, and then yeah, I’m aware of some talk and speculation about the rest of the season,” Ricciardo said in Singapore on Thursday.
“But that, for me at the moment, I’m unaware of. The decision I expect is for next year. Obviously, crazy things have happened in this sport. I’m also not going to stand here too boastful and confident and, ‘Oh, yeah, yeah!’
“Like, I believe I will be (in the car for the rest of the year), but let’s see.”
Red Bull’s senior management and shareholders are set for talks in the gap between Singapore and Austin to discuss its driver plans for the rest of the season and 2025. Marko is known to be a big fan of Lawson, while Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has always wanted to give Ricciardo the time to find his form.
Lawson starred during his five-race cameo for Red Bull last year while deputizing for the injured Ricciardo, but the team opted against promoting him to RB for 2024, sticking with Ricciardo and Tsunoda.
During Pérez’s mid-season struggles, speculation swirled that either Ricciardo or Lawson could be promoted to replace the Mexican veteran, but Red Bull decided Pérez would see out the season in his current seat.
Ricciardo said he was given the same message — that “there won’t be any changes, crack on for the second half,” and to treat the remainder of the season in a similar fashion to the pre-summer break run-in which he deemed to be some of the most important races for his F1 future.
Asked if there was a contractual situation where Singapore could be his final F1 race, Ricciardo replied: “I don’t think so, but I also don’t want to stand here and be the lawyer.
“I would say no, but also, we know how this sport works. People have not seen through a season before. It’s nothing new in some ways. So I don’t want to also be, ‘Oh, 100%, I’ll bet all my house on it.’ I’ve been around too long.”
Ricciardo noted how quickly the picture could change surrounding his future, even from session to session.
“What’s crazy about the sport is, and this is me just now just talking a bit of s—, but I go and get a podium this weekend, and I’m probably the hottest thing in the sport,” Ricciardo said.
“That’s the kind of the merry-go-round we’re on. I know it can change quickly. I’m aware that things are hotting up so to speak, but I just have to try and get my head down this weekend, and yeah, kick some arse.”
When Ricciardo lost his F1 seat at the end of 2022, he made no plans to return to racing to see if his love for the sport would naturally rekindle. Not only did he find himself eager to come back, but a test for Red Bull showed flashes of his old, grand prix-winning speed, leading to his return to the grid.
Ricciardo said that while he has fallen back in love with the sport since returning and still enjoys racing, his goal was always to return to the front. It meant that if he lost his RB seat, he would not jump at any opportunity just to remain on the grid.
“When you’re not in the points, for sure, it’s less enjoyable,” Ricciardo said. “I’m also 35, I’ve been at the front, I’ve experienced the champagne. It’s like I don’t want to hang onto something that might not ever come to fruition again. I’ve certainly had those conversations in my head.
“So yeah. I wouldn’t say that I would jump at any opportunity next year, that’s not the case. I’d probably say peace.”
Top photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
