Daniel Ricciardo ‘on thin ice’ at VCARB as worrying F1 theory emerges

Ricciardo’s Future at VCARB in Question

Daniel Ricciardo’s future at VCARB is uncertain as Red Bull evaluates their driver lineup during the summer break, according to Sky F1 pundit Anthony Davidson. Davidson believes Ricciardo’s position is “on shaky ground” as Red Bull aims to refocus VCARB on developing young talent, a sentiment echoed by Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko.

Shift in VCARB’s Vision

Davidson suggests that while Ricciardo played a vital role in mentoring teammate Yuki Tsunoda and the team, Tsunoda’s growth and current performance have diminished Ricciardo’s importance. Tsunoda now leads the head-to-heads in F1 2024 qualifying and races against Ricciardo, indicating Ricciardo may no longer fit VCARB’s vision.

Comments from Helmut Marko

Davidson stated, “The purpose of RB is to nurture young talent. Daniel had a good role when Yuki was inexperienced, but now that the performance isn’t there for him, he’s on shaky ground.”

Pressure on Ricciardo and Perez

Despite being a potential successor to Sergio Perez at Red Bull, Ricciardo’s struggles to impress and Perez’s multi-year contract have placed him under pressure. Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson, who excelled during Ricciardo’s absence, is seen as a top contender to replace Perez if necessary.

Handling the Pressure

Ricciardo acknowledged the pressure, noting that both he and Perez have learned to ignore external noise. He said, “Every driver is under pressure. Even the ones performing well feel it. We all deal with it and focus on the engineering and car setup.”

Staying Focused Amid Scrutiny

Ricciardo emphasized the need to stay focused despite constant scrutiny, adding, “You hear it, but you have to just roll with it.”