Although Daniel Ricciardo acknowledges he would not be “comfortable” with just “occupying” his RB seat, he states he is not “ready to hand” up his Formula One driving to a Red Bull youngster.
In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, the 35-year-old stated that he will probably “speak openly about” reaching that point in his career when the time comes.
Due to a poor start to the season, Ricciardo warded off early-season doubts about his RB spot. As a result, he has found his form again and is proving to be a lot tighter opponent for teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
Liam Lawson, who was expected to take over and who shocked the Formula One world by filling in for the Australian for five races last season as he recovered from an injury, is still waiting in the wings.
Questions over Ricciardo’s long-term future continue, even though he was not replaced earlier in the year and Red Bull has already confirmed that its driver lineups will not change for the remainder of 2024.
Respecting the ‘journey’
There is growing pressure on RB to return to its youth team roots, as hinted when it left AlphaTauri, after Helmut Marko’s request for it to do so.
The Red Bull family has choices, which puts more pressure on players like Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo.
Lawson is not the only 19-year-old who is vying for a spot in Formula One; Isack Hadjar is currently leading the Formula Two drivers’ championship.
In Formula 3, 16-year-old Arvid Lindblad is making waves amid a title campaign and is rumored to have been the driving force behind the FIA’s recent relaxation of the super license regulations, ostensibly at Red Bull’s request.
Despite joking that he looks younger after shaving, Ricciardo, who is currently in his mid-30s, no longer matches the profile of a junior team.
The eight-time Grand Prix winner said, “Look, I also know what it’s like to be a junior and a young kid that’s hungry and wants that chance to get in the sport.”
“It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was there. And, you know, I appreciate that too. I won’t be at ease with myself the day I feel like I’m filling a seat I can’t fill. I’ll be unwilling to be here.
“I don’t want to rob someone of their opportunity. I have too much respect for the trip. On the other hand, I don’t feel as though I am there. And when I do, I’ll probably talk about it in public.
As of right now, I see it as my final chance, which is probably how I felt when we spoke a year ago. I don’t feel ready to turn it over, but I will give it everything I’ve got, and the juniors will have their moment and their time.
“They won’t get that opportunity just yet.”
Before the Canadian Grand Prix, where Ricciardo finished in the top 10 for the first time this year over a full race distance, the Tsunoda led him by 19 points to 5; the latter resulted from an outstanding drive to fourth place in the Miami sprint.
Since then, though, the eight-time Grand Prix victor has surpassed the Japanese driver by a score of seven to three.
Although slight, the comeback has subdued the initial cries for Ricciardo to give way to players like Lawson or Hadjar.
However, the Australian is no stranger to having trouble with form. During his two years at McLaren, he was largely outclassed and overmatched by Lando Norris, despite winning the Italian Grand Prix in 2021.
When Ricciardo’s contract with the Woking squad was bought out in 2022, it appeared like his days in Formula One were nearly over. Red Bull, nevertheless, provided a lifeline to their former driver.
After 10 rounds, the 35-year-old, who was originally brought in as a third driver, was promoted back to a racing seat instead of Nyck de Vries—the final opportunity Ricciardo himself mentioned.
The RB driver is aware that he will never again have this kind of opportunity, and he will be put out to pasture if he can no longer compete at the necessary level, but he does not believe he has reached that point.
“And look, if my results frickin’ suck and whatever then so be it and that will happen, but I don’t feel like I’m there yet,” he said.
“I believe I’m also too honest with myself, so if I truly didn’t feel my heart was in it longer, I think I would feel awkward taking a seat.
Yes, it wouldn’t make me feel good. They will so have that opportunity, but not just yet.”
