Daniel Ricciardo has made it clear he’s not keen on a reserve role at Red Bull, signalling an end to his 13-year stint in Formula One following a disappointing finish at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Aussie driver, who struggled throughout the season with Visa Cash App RB (VCARB), was overcome with emotion during post-race interviews, suggesting his F1 career is drawing to a close. He received a poignant guard of honour as he returned to the team’s hospitality area after placing 18th in the race at Marina Bay Street Circuit.
With only 12 points to his name this season, trailing behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda by 10, expectations are that current Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson will take over from Ricciardo starting with the United States Grand Prix. Despite being demoted to third driver for Red Bull in 2023, after parting ways with McLaren and stepping in for Nyck de Vries at VCARB (formerly AlphaTauri) mid-last season, Ricciardo has dismissed the idea of settling for test and simulator work like Lawson.
The 35-year-old veteran, facing an imminent exit from the paddock, expressed his disinterest in a reserve position, stating: “No [I’m not interested in being a Red Bull reserve]. Obviously, last year it made a lot of sense to keep one foot in the door and obviously the big picture was to try and get back at Red Bull.”
The Australian driver, 35, said: “I think if I was to do that again, there’s not really [much point]. I’m not going to restart my career. I’m also 35 and I still showed the pace that I’ve had over the years.”
Ricciardo acknowledged that he has found it tougher to consistently deliver strong performances, suggesting that age may be a factor. “But it’s obviously been evident that it’s been harder for me to show it every weekend. And maybe that is a little bit of an age thing.”
He continued: “I think it definitely came easier for me when I was 25 as opposed to 35, but also maybe the competition is just increasing. So maybe it’s just that the level’s increased and it’s probably a tall task for me to fight at that level week in, week out.”
Despite this, Ricciardo remains content with his achievements and is keen to leave the sport on a positive note. “I can’t be disappointed with that. I’m happy that, once upon a time, I could do it and that was a lot of fun.”
Ricciardo’s return to the sport last season was cut short when he broke his hand in just his second Grand Prix back in Belgium, forcing him to miss five rounds.
In his absence, 22-year-old Liam Lawson impressed during a five-race stint, and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has since confirmed that Lawson is “not available” for loan to other teams.
This suggests that Lawson is likely to partner Yuki Tsunoda in 2025, with a long-term view to competing for a more competitive seat at Red Bull. Isack Hadjar, the French-Algerian junior racer currently sitting second in the F2 standings, is being tipped to replace Lawson as Red Bull’s reserve. Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto, who leads the F2 standings by a mere 4.5 points, could potentially join Sauber for the 2025 season.