In a surprising twist, Daniel Ricciardo remains with VCARB, the Red Bull junior team, after the team chooses to keep Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s partner despite a challenging first half of the F1 2024 season.
Amid speculations and mid-season evaluations at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters, the focus was on the future of drivers Perez and Ricciardo. Both struggled to match their teammates’ performances in the first portion of the F1 2024 season. Although Perez recently inked a two-year contract, a clause allowed Red Bull to reconsider if he trailed Verstappen by over 100 points by summer. With the gap widening to 146 points following a less-than-stellar performance at the Belgian Grand Prix, where Perez finished seventh, the situation seemed precarious for the Mexican driver.
Despite the odds, Red Bull decided to stick with Perez for the latter half of the season, starting with the Dutch Grand Prix in late August. Ricciardo, known for his previous successful stint with Red Bull, was also viewed as a strong candidate to replace Perez if changes were made. However, with Perez remaining on board, Ricciardo will continue with VCARB post-summer break. However, Ricciardo’s position for next season remains unconfirmed.
Ricciardo’s consistent performance in recent races, scoring in three of the last six events, likely influenced the decision to retain him. This consistency marks his best form since rejoining F1 with VCARB a year ago. Meanwhile, this decision places a shadow on the future of Liam Lawson, a promising driver who caught attention during a brief stint standing in for Ricciardo in 2023. Lawson’s impressive ninth-place in Singapore couldn’t secure him a seat for the 2024 season as plans are set to keep both Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.
Rumors swirled about Lawson’s potential mid-2024 promotion after his testing at Silverstone. However, his prospects seem bleak unless Red Bull revises its current strategy. Notably, Lawson’s contract contains a clause permitting him to explore opportunities elsewhere if not secured for a permanent seat in F1 2025. Red Bull has an option to promote him that expires in September, leaving Lawson’s future in suspense.
Red Bull’s decisions have not only ensured Ricciardo’s continuation with the team but also left Lawson’s future hanging in the balance. As the F1 2024 season progresses, the dynamics within the Red Bull junior team and its drivers will be intriguing to watch.
