Liam Lawson appears ready to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull’s junior team, RB F1, for 2025. And as for Yuki Tsunoda, Dr Helmut Marko is bypassing a possible official RB F1 press release by already announcing that Lawson will be holder in 2025!
In the midst of the current “crazy season” in the driver market, it appears that a key date relevant to many contracts and final deadlines is towards the end of June.
"I’m ready for next week," said Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas. “There is a specific date, I can’t say what it is, but a lot of things will be decided.”
Some contract deadlines could coincide with this weekend’s Austrian GP, while others will take place during the race at Silverstone a week later.
“Silverstone is going to be crazy,” predicts Oliver Bearman, who is expected to be announced at Haas F1 for next year at the time of his home race. “A lot of things are going to happen.”
Daniel Ricciardo, who has underperformed overall so far this season, admitted last weekend in Barcelona that he was nervous about his place in the Faenza team beyond 2024.
“It’s difficult,” said the Australian, “because there’s not really one thing behind a decision. There are so many. It can be very overwhelming.”
One of those factors for Ricciardo is that if team owner Red Bull cannot offer his reserve driver Liam Lawson, 22, a seat for 2025, he is free to sign elsewhere.
It’s no coincidence that rumors of Lawson’s talks with Audi-owned Sauber are suddenly emerging.
But Red Bull team consultant Dr Helmut Marko has now indicated that Lawson will indeed be Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate at RB F1 next year – replacing Ricciardo.
“The shareholders have made it clear that this is a junior team and we have to act accordingly,” he said today ahead of the team’s Grand Prix in Austria.
“The goal with Daniel was for him to be considered by Red Bull Racing with exceptional performances. This seat now belongs to Sergio Perez, so this plan is no longer valid.”
As for the RB F1 team, Marko added: “We have to put a young driver there soon. It will be Liam Lawson.”
Marko also expressed concerns over the major upgrade introduced by RB F1 in Barcelona.
“They had a real performance accident with the car – it was real degradation. They need to figure out why quickly.”
