Daniel Ricciardo has hit back after bombshell reports came to light that his future in Formula 1 was on the brink of coming to an end.
The 34-year-old was hit with bombshell news he could be replaced by rising star Liam Lawson next month.
The rumours began swirling after Red Bull chief adviser Marko said it was the team’s plan for Lawson to take over in 2025.
Marko has told Austrian publication Kleine Zeitung that senior Red Bull officials want Lawson.
“The shareholders have made it clear that it is a junior team and we have to act accordingly,” he said.
“We will have to put a young driver in there soon. That would be Liam Lawson.”
But Ricciardo hit back saying he felt under no extra pressure to save his seat at RB in the wake of Marko’s explosive remarks.
Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Ricciardo said he was reconciled to delivering high performance on track to earn a new contract.
“I don’t feel one way or another about it. I still know the overriding thing in this sport is performance,” he said.
“That’s what will give me my best chance of staying here. I know that. It’s not going to be my smile or anything else. It’s the on-track stuff.”
With the axe reportedly hovering overhead, Ricciardo said he’d not been given an ultimatum by the team to perform or move on.
“There hasn’t been any pressure, any ultimatum – nothing like that,” said Ricciardo.
“But also I’ve been in the sport a long time. I know that, if I’m getting my ass kicked every weekend, at some point someone will be like ‘hey mate, step it up, otherwise …’ but I haven’t had that.”
Ricciardo’s hopes of regaining a seat alongside three-time champion Max Verstappen in the senior Red Bull team ended when struggling Sergio Perez was given a contract extension earlier this month.
After a period of indifferent performances, Ricciardo produced a determined drive in Canada following criticism by former champion Jacques Villneueve, who suggested he was no longer worthy of a seat.
RB have confirmed that Japanese Yuki Tsunoda will continue with them in 2025. Confirmation on Thursday that Pierre Gasly had signed a contract extension with Alpine, one of Ricciardo’s former teams, came as other teams closed their doors with Lance Stroll staying on with Aston Martin next year.
If the Red Bull junior team do elect to move on from Ricciardo and bring in Lawson, the available seats for Ricciardo are slim.
Stroll’s signing means four teams now have their driver line-ups locked in for 2025 with Aston Martin, Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari.
Five teams have an open seat with Mercedes, RB, Alpine, Sauber and Williams although all of the second seats have drivers heavily linked to filling the spots.
Haas remain the only team on the grid with two open spots for 2025 although Esteban Ocon is linked with joining alongside rising youngster Ollie Bearman.
