F1 boss hints Red Bull future in Ricciardo's hands

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko has implied different twelvemonth for Daniel Ricciardo with AlphaTauri is connected the cards.

The Australian made his daze mid-season Formula 1 instrumentality astatine the Hungarian Grand Prix successful spot of Nyck De Vries and is connected the verge of different season.

Ricciardo has made conscionable 2 expansive prix starts with the squad this twelvemonth successful Hungary and Belgium earlier the summertime break, finishing 13th and 16th respectively.

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It's each trending successful the close absorption for the Perth-born aviator who has his sights acceptable connected the Red Bull spot presently occupied by Mexico's Sergio Perez.

Daniel Ricciardo is apt to get different play with AlphaTauri. (Mark Thompson via Getty Images)

Perez has been thing of an underperformer comparative to teammate Max Verstappen. 

Although helium sits 2nd successful the drivers' championship, Perez has lagged importantly down successful qualifying passim the year. 

There were suggestions helium could beryllium demoted earlier the extremity of his contract, though that seems improbable now.

Marko's latest comments suggest Ricciardo is acceptable for different play with AlphaTauri earlier a imaginable promotion to Red Bull erstwhile Perez's declaration expires astatine the extremity of 2024.

"Of people you person to cognize from Daniel Ricciardo what his… We cognize his goals, but however to execute them, whether helium is acceptable to bash a afloat twelvemonth astatine AlphaTauri adjacent twelvemonth with afloat commitment," Marko told German outlet Motorsport-Magazin.

Daniel Ricciardo finished 16th successful the Belgium Grand Prix. (Dan Mullan via Getty Images)

Red Bull is besides conscious of its inferior drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson.

Honda has been a large protagonist of Tsunoda and done its inferior improvement part got the Japanese operator to the apical by mode of its 'Formula Dream Project'. 

Although Honda's ties to Red Bull aren't arsenic beardown arsenic before, since it pulled retired astatine the extremity of 2021, the shaper volition yet re-join Formula 1 with Aston Martin.

That could spot Tsunoda power teams, if suggestions Fernando Alonso mightiness discontinue by 2026 travel to fruition.

"Yuki Tsunoda has steadily improved successful and of himself, has his emotions nether power for the astir part, is present besides conditionally susceptible of driving done a GP," said Marko.

"Of course, Honda is besides involved," helium noted.

Yuki Tsunoda has driven for AlphaTauri since 2021. (Mark Thompson via Getty Images)

Then there's Lawson, who is Red Bull's reserve and trial driver.

The Kiwi is presently competing successful the Super Formula bid successful Japan wherever helium has shone for Honda.

He sits 2nd overall, conscionable 1 constituent adrift of the lead, and is simply a campaigner for promotion to Formula 1.

If Ricciardo is kept on, past helium whitethorn person to hold for 2025 if so Ricciardo is promoted and Perez is fto go.

"We person alternatives, for illustration Lawson, who is 2nd successful Japan and is precise palmy determination and has made a large leap guardant successful his full improvement since he's been driving successful Japan," Marko explained.

Liam Lawson is Red Bull reserve and trial driver. (Getty)

In immoderate case, the Red Bull large wig is blessed with Ricciardo's accomplishment and the interaction it has had connected squad morale.

The antheral with a mile-wide grin has had promising results and looks apt to beryllium a points scorer erstwhile the play resumes.

"The alteration has had a precise affirmative effect, successful presumption of temper and information successful the AlphaTauri team," Marko added.

While de Vries was connected mean 3 to 5 tenths behind, if you set each that, Ricciardo is simply a batch smaller, if not level with Tsunoda.

"We person 9 races left; successful these 9 races we volition ticker however it develops. 

"Tsunoda had a precise bully contention successful Spa, possibly successful the mediate assemblage erstwhile it was raining a spot excessively much, possibly helium could person had a amended result. 

"Daniel was not acold distant from points successful the sprint. This absorption fits."