Daniel Ricciardo cops hammer blow as Red Bull confirm massive news for F1 team's future

Daniel Ricciardo's chances of being promoted to the chief Red Bull team appear all but over after the Formula One (F1) giant on Wednesday morning confirmed they had re-signed Sergio Perez for a further two years. Speculation was mounting ahead of the 2024 season that Ricciardo would replace Perez next year, however, on the back of the Aussie's below-par campaign, the champion team decided to stick with their Mexican star.

Perez’s contract was up for renewal at the end of the season but the extension will keep him at Red Bull until the end of the 2026 season and sees Ricciardo's F1 career reach a crossroads. Having been brought in halfway through last season, the Aussie was believed to be in line to take over from Perez and join world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025.

But despite some positive performances at the end of 2024 and in pre-season, the Aussie has failed to produce in the current F1 season. After eight races, Ricciardo is fighting to remain on the grid with his Visa Cash App RB future in serious jeopardy.

In 2024, the Aussie has been consistently outperformed by Yuki Tsunoda - a man he was expected to outshine by a fair margin - and reports are that Ricciardo is on borrowed time. Expected to have dominated Tsunoda this season, after eight races, the Japanese youngster holds a 7-1 lead in qualifying, a 6-1 record in races (both men had DNFs in China) and a 19-5 lead on the drivers championship table.

And with Ricciardo badly out of form reports emerged last month that Red Bull are considering replacing him with 22-year-old Kiwi Liam Lawson. Last month racing pundit Richard Bradley said the writing is on the wall for Ricciardo to be sacked by Red Bull any week now.

When asked on the 'On Track GP F1 Podcast' whether Ricciardo will be able to keep his seat Bradley said: "I don’t think so, no". "If you just look at it, it was one qualification and one race he did a very good job in that, but let’s actually look at it in terms of overall at the beginning of this year, that’s two good sessions out of how many?" he said.

"I’m sorry but I think the writing’s on the wall. Liam Lawson is proven, he’s right there." And with Red Bull securing the services of Perez and with the team reportedly keen on keeping talented Kiwi Lawson, fans believe Ricciardo's chances of ever challenging for a world championship are over.

Visa Cash RB seats in 2025 unclear

Perez’s deal only being for two seasons could realistically mean if Ricciardo can drastically turn things around he could get another chance at making the main team. However, to do that he would have to hold onto his Cash App RB seat and vastly improve his speed.

And despite constant axing speculation, rumours emerged this week that Ricciardo could surprisingly hold onto his seat due to his relationship with Red Bull boss Christian Horner. BBC senior Formula 1 writer Andrew Benson said Horner is committed to Ricciardo despite his Japanese teammate getting the better of him.

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But competition for the two seats is fierce with Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Lawson and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz all in contention for two spots on the grid. If RB elects to keep both Tsunoda and Ricciardo, Sainz could be without a place on the grid in 2025 and Lawson would likely go elsewhere.

"At the moment, though, Ricciardo is protected by team principal Christian Horner, sources say, and is safe for now from being replaced by reserve Liam Lawson," Benson wrote. "It is not hard to imagine a Lawson and Ricciardo line-up at RB in 2025, though, if Horner does not shift his stance and Tsunoda moves elsewhere.”