Red Bull boss' awkward Ricciardo backflip

2 years ago 89

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko announced Daniel Ricciardo would thrust for the squad adjacent year, earlier performing a backflip and retracting the connection a abbreviated clip later.

In an evident lawsuit of letting the feline retired of the container excessively early, Marko said the Aussie would instrumentality to Milton Keynes adjacent year, 4 years aft leaving the squad.

"Ricciardo volition beryllium our 3rd driver," Marko told Sky Sports Germany successful the paddock astatine the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"We person truthful galore sponsors, we person to bash amusement runs, truthful of people he's 1 of the astir high-profile and best-suited."

But Marko besides confirmed Kiwi Liam Lawson would travel connected arsenic the squad's authoritative reserve driver. Third operator and reserve operator are presumption often utilized interchangeably.

Putting Lawson successful the reserve relation would mean Ricciardo could determination into a improvement operator role, wherever helium mentors young drivers successful the Red Bull academy.

But a abbreviated clip aboriginal - perchance having been taken to task by either the squad oregon Ricciardo's campy - Marko retracted the statement.

Since confirmation came helium would suffer his spot astatine McLaren to chap Aussie Oscar Piastri, Ricciardo has been heavy linked to a reserve operator relation astatine Mercedes.

However, rumours of a Red Bull homecoming gathered steam successful Austin erstwhile Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz reported during signifier Ricciardo had signed a woody with his aged team, with which he's scored 7 of his 8 F1 wins to-date.

Since helium was sacked from Haas this week, Mick Schumacher has present been linked to the Mercedes reserve role - the squad his legendary dada drove for connected his F1 comeback betwixt 2010-2012.

Ricciardo made his F1 debut successful 2011 for Hispania Racing Team portion connected indebtedness arsenic a Red Bull inferior driver. He made his full-time debut with Red Bull's sister squad Toro Rosso - present AlphaTauri - successful 2012.

He was promoted to the elder squad for 2014 aft Mark Webber's retirement.

Without a contention spot connected the grid adjacent year, Ricciardo volition enactment up for this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix knowing this whitethorn good beryllium his past successful the sport.

Ricciardo was ninth aft signifier concluded aboriginal Saturday (AEDT).

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