Daniel Ricciardo is on the verge of an F1 exit. Despite having an illustrious racing career, a young New Zealander might replace the Australian veteran. The Racing Bulls management and stakeholders are willing to give fresh faces a chance. Even Helmut Marko has repeatedly stated the eagerness of RB management to try young academy racers. However, this inclination towards the rookies might put a full stop on an exquisite F1 career.
Just a few months back, the 35-year-old Australian was the fan favorite to be picked as Sergio Perez’s replacement. He was seen with the VCARB and RBR chiefs having a serious discussion. Thus, speculations were that he was ready to join hands with Max Verstappen to claim the second RB20 seat. However, the paradigm shifted in a jiffy, and now Ricciardo is at the exit door.
Daniel Ricciardo’s VCARB Exit Imminent As Red Bull Inclined Towards Youngsters
The Red Bull team faces a serious issue as both the teams (RRB & VCARB) have an underperforming second driver. Sergio Perez has been on a downward curve, resulting in Red Bull ceding the top spot to McLaren. Moreover, Checo is the only racer among the top four teams yet to win a race this season. On the other hand, the sister team faces similar problems. The Japanese racer Yuki Tsunoda has performed well, while his partner Ricciardo’s performance graph has been underwhelming. Albeit Perez and Ricciardo share a similar performance graph, the two share a different fate. While the Red Bull team portrays trust in the Mexican racer, Ricciardo might not be that lucky.
In comes the new name Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old touted as the next big thing for Red Bull. Earlier, the team was contemplating releasing Lawson for other F1 teams. However, in the latest developments, he is ready to drive for one of the RB teams before this season ends. According to F1 insiders, Lawson might be seen in one of the Red Bull F1 cars during the Austin weekend. Additionally, Ricciardo has seemed to have lost the charm since his 2023 F1 return. However, the Australian got better of his teammate Tsunoda in the final five races of 2023. Whereas Tsunoda had been ahead of Ricciardo for most of the 2024 season.
While Ricciardo’s F1 exit is on the horizon, Red Bull management is not confirming anything. Thus, he is currently uncertain about his career and one “announcement” away from losing it all. However, a dull send-off to Ricciardo is infuriating the F1 fans.
Daniel Ricciardo Deserves A Proper Farewell
F1 experts and journalists are criticizing RB management for its cold approach towards its senior racers. Mat Coco, an F1 journalist, shared his thoughts during the Pit Talk Podcast. He speculated that the RBR’s behavior is backed by legal reasons.
He further affirmed that Ricciardo’s chances of racing again in F1 appear slim. The Australian racer was seen savoring the final F1 moments with years in his eyes. Moreover, a standing ovation by the crowd hints that Ricciardo will not return to the paddock.