In the RB garage, a grin spreads across Daniel Ricciardo’s face.
Empty seats are dwindling ahead of Formula 1’s upcoming 2025 season, raising key concerns about where Team RB driver Daniel Ricciardo may end up. He and teammate Yuki Tsunoda were strong contenders for Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat until the Mexican driver signed a two-year deal.
Thankfully, RB CEO Peter Bayer is “very happy” with both of his current drivers. In the team press conference ahead of May’s Grand Prix in Imola, Bayer expressed optimism about the growth and potential of both Ricciardo and Tsunoda, and that they aren’t “wasting time” discussing future options.
Daniel Ricciardo: a wealth of value
Visa Cash App RB, previously known as AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso, is among the few remaining teams, alongside Haas and Alpine, that have yet to finalize their 2025 F1 lineup.
Part of this likely comes down to the fact that both RB drivers were thought to be under consideration for Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat. Further, RB boss Laurent Mekies exclusively told PlanetF1 that the team is under no rush to sign any contracts.
“As much as we acknowledge the fact that it seems to be a big topic out there, from our perspectives it’s far too early for us to think about that,” Mekies said, regarding the question of driver lineups.
Bayer expressed similar views in Imola, stating, “We are extremely pleased with our drivers. We are not engaging in hypothetical discussions or speculating about the future. Our team boasts a formidable lineup, including an exceptional reserve driver. Additionally, we have outstanding talent emerging from F2 and F3.”
RB is primarily dedicated to enhancing its performance to effectively compete against Aston Martin.
That being said, Mekies referred to the Tsunoda/Ricciardo pairing as “huge luck” in an exclusive interview with PlanetF1 before further elaborating on the qualities that makes Ricciardo such a great fit for RB.
“Daniel specifically, in the context of the projects, where the team needs to go and helping identify the gaps, it hugely helps to have somebody like Daniel that won eight races, has been at a few teams and knows where the board can be and where the board needs to go,” Mekies said. And while Ricciardo may have struggled to come to grips with the 2024 car, Mekies praised the Australian’s ability to work hard for performance without being “emotional” about any lack of progress. Those are all ideal qualities for a driver in a team like RB — one that can use level-headed feedback and a strong dedication to making change.
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Things aren’t all bad for Yuki Tsunoda, though. The Japanese driver may have spent his first few years in F1 learning to control his temper and his race craft — but now, Peter Bayer is impressed.
During the team press conference before Imola, Bayer expressed his firm belief that Tsunoda has indeed taken a significant leap forward. He emphasized that this progress encompasses both physical preparation and mental readiness to excel and achieve desired outcomes.
The other day, I gave an example where he demonstrated his understanding that each time he swears on the radio, it will result in a penalty of one-tenth. Consequently, he has managed to keep himself in check and exhibit utmost professionalism while providing feedback to the engineers. It is clear that he has made significant progress in his approach.
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