Daniel Ricciardo is keen to emphasise “I don’t get a kick in the butt by someone who’s rarely very fast” to Yuki Tsunoda, as Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson prepares for a potentially vital test at Silverstone.
Tsunoda has already decided his future for F1 2025, with the Japanese driver re-signing with the Red Bull VCARB junior team for next season. However, he remains to see what awaits his current teammate, Ricciardo.
Additional reporting via Thomas Maher
Ricciardo was considered the main contender to return to the great Red Bull team for F1 2025, but lately losing to Tsunoda in the battle within the VCARB team, Red Bull opted to retain Sergio Perez under a new multi-year deal.
With 11 numbers on the clock to Tsunoda’s 20, while the qualifying showdown marks 9-3 in Tsunoda’s favour, Ricciardo admits his season has not lived up to expectations as he tries to secure his position on the F1 2025 grid.
Lawson will get behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB20 on Thursday for a day of filming at Silverstone, as he looks to boost his chances of competing in F1 2025.
However, Ricciardo considers his scenario disproportionate to Tsunoda.
Speaking to the media, adding PlanetF1. com, Ricciardo said: “I mean, look, I know my year, of course, I’ve had some little highs, but overall it’s probably not been what I expected and what I need for myself. .
“So, I know that when you don’t kick your ass, of course, you’re going to get a little bit of criticism. But it’s probably destroyed, you know.
“I don’t think the hole ever… or rarely, you know, takes a moment or something with Yuki.
“I also think he got a lot of praise, so I’m not going to get a kick in the butt from someone who’s not very fast. I think everyone recognises that he has very intelligent speed on one lap. “
“But yes, the war between teammates is closely watched. “
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Speculation around Ricciardo has taken a turn recently, as rather than focusing only on the Australian’s chances of staying on the grid, the prospect of a seat change between Perez and Ricciardo has returned to the conversation.
However, Red Bull senior advisor and head of the driver program Helmut Marko said Red Bull remained confident in Perez’s ability to “pick himself up” again.
“We hope that Sergio gets down to work. He has already managed to get out of some kind of crisis several times in the past,” Marko told F1-Insider.
“Any other driver wouldn’t seem smart about Max either. Max is in the best shape of his life and is getting even better.
Ricciardo has finished with problems in two of his last four starts, completing P8 in Canada and P9 in Austria.
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