Audi’s interest in signing Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson for the 2025 F1 season is the new uncertainty about Daniel Ricciardo’s long career at Red Bull, local media claim.
The 35-year-old Ricciardo has struggled heavily since returning to F1 with RB (then AlphaTauri) last year, struggling in just 3 events, adding a ninth-place finish in Austria last weekend, a wonderful price.
After teammate Tsunoda appeared as an RB driver for F1 2025 at the Canadian Grand Prix last month, the fight for the second seat will likely be between Ricciardo and Red Bull reserve driver Lawson, who participated in one season. of five runs while substitute. him. for an injured Ricciardo in F1 2023.
Long-time Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko revealed earlier this year that a clause in Lawson’s contract would allow the 22-year-old to leave Red Bull altogether if he is promoted to a permanent seat for F1 2025.
And speaking to Austrian publication Kleine Zeitung ahead of the Austria Grand Prix, Marko revealed that RB “will have to” promote Lawson for a racing position in the short or long term under the command of Red Bull shareholders, who are keen to see the driver. In Faenza the company returns to its roots as a team to train young pilots.
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Marko said: “The shareholders have made it clear that this is a junior team and we want to act accordingly.
“[Ricciardo]’s goal is to think about Red Bull Racing with notable performances. That seat now belongs to Sergio Pérez [who recently signed a new two-year contract], so this plan is no longer valid. “
“Soon we will have to put a young driver on it. It would be Liam Lawson.
A report by Swiss-German newspaper Blick found that Audi’s interest in Tsunoda and Lawson is the biggest pressure on Ricciardo, forcing Red Bull to resist the German manufacturer’s advances for both.
Audi, which will take over the existing Sauber team in time for F1’s 2026 rule changes, announced the signing of Nico Hulkenberg from Haas in April, with the German manufacturer’s seat for F1 2025 lately unoccupied.
The Hinwil-based team is known for its long-standing interest in outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who has also been linked to Williams and Alpine in recent weeks.
It is claimed that Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has to activate an option to extend Tsunoda’s contract with RB after learning that the Japanese driver had entered negotiations with Audi.
According to the report, “the same game is now being played” with Lawson, which has further urgency from Red Bull to announce a permanent seat in Ricciardo’s place.
Red Bull’s option to offer Lawson a permanent seat for F1 2025 is due to expire in September. With Audi’s interest in the New Zealander appearing “too great”, Marko is said to have “struck despite the veto of Ricciardo’s friend Horner”. “.
Marko told Blick that Red Bull “would have loaned out our Formula 2 driver, [Isack] Hadjar”. Campos-based driver Hadjar is currently second in the F2 standings, having taken two wins so far this season.
This comes after Marko claimed earlier this year that Audi was putting “pressure” on a silly season, commenting that “it’s a bit for a newcomer to put pressure on the driver market”.
Speaking to the media, adding PlanetF1. com in Austria, Ricciardo insisted he had not won any ultimatums from Red Bull’s hierarchy and retained power from Horner and RB team principal Laurent Mekies.
However, the Australian said he is unlikely to be retained for next season if his functionality does not improve, as he waited until the recent Canada GP to record his first F1 finish in 2024, as well as a fourth-place finish in the Miami sprint race. .
Ricciardo’s ninth position in Austria means he has finished ahead of Tsunoda in the last 3 races, however, he has been overtaken by his teammate 8 times in 11 races so far this season and is behind Tsunoda by 8 places in the standings. Pilots. Formation
Asked if he had any indication that his seat was threatened, he replied: “No, I didn’t hear anything.
“There is no pressure, no ultimatum, or anything like that.
“But I’ve also been playing this game for a long time and I know that if I get my ass kicked every weekend, at some point someone will say to me, ‘Hey, dude, step up or else. ‘. . ‘
“I didn’t have that, but I’m aware that doing a smart race from time to time is enough and it’s not where I need to be either. I don’t need to have a weird peak followed by a series of casualties. “.
“I think it was smart of Christian, Laurent and everyone.
“Obviously they do what they can, but at some point I’m the one who’s in danger and I have to push the throttle a little harder. “
Asked if he was worried that RB’s final decision would be communicated too late to be able to find another reason for next season, Ricciardo replied: “No, no.
“I don’t need to be flippant about it, because obviously I care a lot, but I don’t know.
“Maybe I’m at a point where this will be what will happen. And I’m going to bring everything I can in terms of effort and functionality [perspective].
“And if that’s enough to secure a spot, all the better. If not, then that’s fine. I did everything I could, but. . .
“I think when it comes to musical chairs, if I’m in it, then I’m [in trouble]. I have my full attention here.
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