Is there a possibility of Daniel Ricciardo being replaced by Liam Lawson at RB?
Having locked in Red Bull’s F1 2025 line-up, attention has now turned to RB but it’s not a case of three drivers fighting for two seats, it’s two fighting for one with Yuki Tsunoda “set.”
According to Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, he is faced with the decision of selecting between Liam Lawson and Daniel Ricciardo for the second seat.
Liam Lawson vs Daniel Ricciardo for the second RB seat?
Red Bull recently put an end to all the rumors surrounding Max Verstappen’s F1 2025 teammate by officially announcing that Sergio Perez has agreed to a new two-year contract extension with the team.
Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull extends until the end of the F1 2026 season, ensuring his stay with the team for the foreseeable future.
Unless there is an unexpected departure, both Tsunoda and Ricciardo are unlikely to move up to the senior team anytime soon, although rumors about a potential shock exit persist.
But the Red Bull driver conundrum doesn’t end there as they have three drivers seeking an F1 2025 seat at the junior RB team in Tsunoda, Ricciardo and reserve driver Lawson.
Marko claims that Tsunoda is staying put.
“Yuki Tsunoda is set, that’s clear,” he told Kleine Zeitung.
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This season, the standout performer for Red Bull (RB) has been the Japanese driver, surpassing Ricciardo in every significant statistic, and most importantly, leading the Drivers’ Championship.
With Ricciardo’s early-season struggles, there is speculation that he may not complete the season, as he has only scored five points compared to his opponent’s 19.
Despite denials from everyone involved, it is possible that F1 2024 might be Ricciardo’s final year on the grid. Red Bull is now faced with a significant decision – whether to promote reserve driver Lawson to a race seat or risk losing him.
Last year, the Kiwi made a remarkable impression by stepping in for Ricciardo after the Australian injured his hand. Lawson’s outstanding performance at the Singapore Grand Prix earned the team their highest result of the season up until that point, securing a ninth-place finish.
It was even more impressive that he managed to score those points just 24 hours after receiving the news that he would not be promoted to a race seat for the 2024 season.
Marko and team boss Christian Horner are currently faced with the decision of whether to retain Ricciardo or forfeit Lawson, as the team has a contractual obligation that allows the Kiwi driver to either race in the coming year or have the freedom to depart.
“Lawson has a constant presence at every race, and we maintain a close relationship,” Marko commented. “There is a provision regarding Lawson that states if we don’t provide him with an available seat, he is free to explore opportunities with other teams.”
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