The VCARB second seat has been a trending topic for a while. With plenty of names floating around, the RB management has remained tight-lipped about the situation. Thus, the biggest mystery coming into Singapore GP was whether Daniel Ricciardo would continue driving for teh RBR’s sister team.
Although his performance has been underwhelming, Riicrado was once a front-runner to replace Sergio Perez. However, the tables have turned, and his VCARB seat is under severe threat. Amid all the commotion, Red Bull’s senior advisor opened up about Ricciardo’s future in F1. Meanwhile, the Racing Bull’s CEO made the completely opposite statement regarding the same situation.
Racing Bulls CEO Leaves Door Open For Ricciardo Amid Marko’s Ambiguous Statement
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher made a shocking revelation before the weekend race. According to the German racer, the decision has been made not to retain Ricciardo while signing Liam Lawson. However, there has been ambiguity surrounding Riciardo’s F1 future, as no precise information has been available until now. Helmut Marko, the senior Red Bull advisor, tried to clarify things but ended up giving a vague statement. The Austrian hinted towards a decision being already made but refrained from providing any further information. Further, when asked to comment on Ralf Shcumacher’s speculation, Marko made a sharp quip, implying Schcumaher has assumed the role of RBR spokesperson.
However, when pressed for details, the 81-year-old took a sidestep, refraining from telling whether Riicardo’s Singapore GP performance could flip his fate. Marko highlighted the uncertainty of Formula One, claiming there are no guarantees in this sport. He explained that no seats are ever safe in F1 and confirmed that the decision would be announced after the race.
Ultimately, Marko gave Ricciardo a prerequisite for saving his VCARB seat—a podium finish in the Singapore GP. However, this seems like an almost impossible event, as the VCARB car is not quick enough to beat the front runners. This entire situation reinforces the high-pressure environment of F1, where even an experienced racer could lose his seat.
Daniel Ricciardo Dejected After Getting Out In Q1
Daniel Ricciardo reflected on his challenging qualifying session, acknowledging that his VCARB machine underwent minimal changes between practice and qualifying. Following a strong performance in practice, Ricciardo was optimistic heading into qualifying, especially with how well the car handled on the medium tire earlier in the day. However, things took a dramatic turn once he switched to the soft tires. He immediately felt a drop in performance, noting that the car didn’t respond well to the softer compound despite some fine-tuning ahead of the session.
Ricciardo was candid about his disappointment, stating that the car had felt solid during practice, and there wasn’t a significant mistake during qualifying—he simply lacked the speed. He sensed early on that his lap wasn’t fast, reinforcing his belief that the car’s balance wasn’t right on the soft tires. The frustration continued as he struggled with the soft tires throughout the day, unable to find any competitive pace across three sets of softs.
Looking back on his Q1 exit, Ricciardo expressed his frustration, explaining that while everything felt fine leading up to qualifying, the outcome was disappointing. The session left him searching for answers, especially given the confidence he had in his car just a day before.
