David Croft ‘hates’ what he has to say about Daniel Ricciardo amid Red Bull talk

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Daniel Ricciardo is one of the drivers in contention to replace Sergio Perez if he loses his Red Bull seat. Perez survived the summer break but remains under threat in the second half of the season.

Liam Lawson is also an option for Red Bull, but Ricciardo may be seen as a safer bet. He’s driven in more than 250 Grands Prix – Lawson has only featured in five – and won seven races during his first stint with the team between 2014 and 2018.

Yuki Tsunoda is winning the intra-team battle at RB this season but isn’t in the frame for a promotion. Christian Horner has doubts over Tsunoda’s mental strength, which would surely be tested in a partnership with Max Verstappen.

Remarkably, Ricciardo’s RB future is uncertain at the same time. His contract still hasn’t been renewed, and if Perez stays put over the winter, there’s a strong chance that Lawson will replace him at the junior outfit.

Red Bull could reassess Perez’s future after the Singapore GP next month should he fail to improve. Ricciardo will have to consistently deliver, starting at Zandvoort this weekend, to make himself a compelling alternative.

Will Buxton says Red Bull could also axe Perez after Brazil if the constructors’ championship is under threat ahead of the last three races. That would allow them to reap the full commercial rewards of the Mexico City GP in October.

David Croft questions whether Daniel Ricciardo deserves to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, commentator David Croft offered his take on the possibility of Ricciardo returning to Red Bull. He’s a big fan of the Australian as both a racer and an individual.

However, he’s unsure whether the 35-year-old has done enough this year to merit a front-running seat. Tsunoda has been quicker on Saturdays and more productive on Sundays too.

“I hate asking this question because I love Daniel Ricciardo as a human being,” Croft said. “I just think he’s a brilliant guy.

“And as a racer, I think we have seen some brilliant moments. And I thoroughly enjoyed watching and commentating on Daniel Ricciardo over the years.

“Is he, though, doing enough to warrant a promotion to Red Bull? I think you just need all the data.

“You need to look at all the scenarios. But is he doing enough? Is a man who scored three points finishes this season, who trails his teammate 9-5 in qualifying and is 10 points behind his teammate doing enough to warrant a promotion?”

David Coulthard’s sly dig at ‘boy man’ Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo has struggled to recapture his best form since his move to McLaren in 2021. He won the Italian Grand Prix that season but Lando Norris comfortably outperformed him during their two years together.

Oscar Piastri’s mum was sad to see Ricciardo go, even if it meant her son getting an opportunity. The veteran would spend six months on the sidelines before replacing an underperforming Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri.

Tim Coronel says Ricciardo has ‘no business’ staying at RB and should retire from F1. Indeed, executive director Helmut Marko wants to promote young talent again.

If he does bow out at the end of this year, he can still look back on his career with huge pride. David Coulthard left ‘boy man’ Ricciardo out of his Red Bull top three, favouring Mark Webber, but external opinions will be of little concern.