Overlooked by Red Bull for the 2025 season and beyond, Daniel Ricciardo admits he’s not surprised by the decision.
Sergio Perez, despite some tough recent rounds, got a huge confidence boost ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Red Bull confirmed his stay until the end of 2026 with a new multi-year contract.
Going into the 2024 season, Ricciardo was seen as a potential threat to Perez’s seat at Red Bull. After initially rejoining as a reserve driver, Ricciardo moved to their junior team mid-season, replacing Nyck de Vries. However, with only five points compared to teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s 19, Ricciardo’s performance has been underwhelming. Hence, it’s not a shock that Red Bull decided to stick with Perez.
Ricciardo, speaking to Sky F1, said, ‘It doesn’t surprise me… My goal is still to return to the main Red Bull team, but my season hasn’t been spectacular. I had a good moment in Miami, but otherwise, I’ve been inconsistent. I’ve been doing this long enough to know I need to improve.’
He added, ‘After the first few races, my focus shifted to doing the best I can here. Through that, I might have more control over my future. As of now, I haven’t been awesome enough, but I’m happy to be back in the Red Bull family. We’ll keep pushing forward, and who knows what the future holds.’
Meanwhile, Perez has expressed his desire to retire at Red Bull, reinforcing his commitment to the team.
Moving forward, Ricciardo aims to secure his place in the team for 2025. The prospects look promising, with CEO Peter Bayer expressing satisfaction with both Ricciardo and Tsunoda’s performance. ‘We’re very happy with both of our drivers. We’re not wasting time on ‘what ifs’ and ‘whens.’ We have a strong lineup and great talent coming up through the ranks,’ Bayer said.
Ricciardo will be hoping for better results at the Canadian Grand Prix, a race he won back in 2014.
Ricciardo remains focused on improving his performance and securing his future within the Red Bull family. While the challenge is steep, his resolve seems unshakable.
Source: Planetf1
