‘Something is coming’… Why Red Bull simulator driver fears Daniel Ricciardo won’t see out the season

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Daniel Ricciardo’s future has been one of the most remarkable stories in the Formula 1 driver market in 2024. Within a few races, there were rumours that he would lose his seat to Liam Lawson.

Ricciardo then closed the gap to teammate Yuki Tsunoda, warding off the immediate threat. In the process, he nudged himself into contention to replace Sergio Perez.

At the same time, the Australian was battling to keep his seat and earn a promotion to the reigning world champions. The latter prospect now appears to be fading.

Perez strengthened his case in Baku, despite his late race-ending tangle with Carlos Sainz, as he outqualified Max Verstappen for the first time all year and showed impressive pace. Meanwhile, Ricciardo has struggled to make headlines in an RB car that has regressed since the spring and early summer.

Red Bull see Lawson as the long-term successor to Perez. But before he joins Christian Horner’s squad, he may be tasked with proving himself over a full season at RB.

That could spell the end of Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career. He’s already been given a second chance by Red Bull, having joined AlphaTauri midway through last year after he was axed by McLaren.

The Helmut Marko interview that’s sewn Daniel Ricciardo doubts at Red Bull

It looks increasingly unlikely that Ricciardo will drive at either Red Bull team next year. But he may yet lose his seat even earlier than that.

On the latest episode of the RacingNews365 podcast, Red Bull simulator driver Rudy van Buren was asked if Ricciardo would see out the season. He couldn’t offer any guarantees.

Helmut Marko has teased a driver announcement after the Singapore Grand Prix in multiple interviews. And Van Buren wouldn’t rule out an early Ricciardo/Lawson swap.

He said: “I dare not say with certainty after Helmut’s interview. I asked the same question again from the Viaplay camp. He comes, he laughs and he says exactly the same answer again. Something is coming.”

Ricciardo won’t be the first driver to fall before Abu Dhabi. Williams axed Logan Sargeant following the Dutch GP and drafted in Franco Colapinto instead.

The Liam Lawson ‘intel’ that’s set to impact Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 future

Ricciardo’s displays this year have been underwhelming but far from disastrous. While he has 10 points fewer than Tsunoda, he’s only two spots behind in the championship, broadly where he ought to be in a car of that level.

But perhaps the problem is that Red Bull expected him to beat Tsunoda decisively. As an eight-time Grand Prix winner, he arguably should have asserted his dominance over a driver with little chance of making it to the top team.

But as it is, Tsunoda is staying put for another year and he looks set to have a new teammate. The ‘intel’ is that Lawson will replace Ricciardo, and the ‘body language’ in Singapore may be telling.

A decision may already have been made without being communicated publicly. Ricciardo’s commercial value isn’t enough to keep him around given that RB have the financial backing of Red Bull.