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Following the Singapore Grand Prix, it was announced that Visa RB is parting ways with Daniel Ricciardo. After a tumultuous season, the eight-time race winner will now be replaced by the young driver Liam Lawson. However, it has emerged that Ricciardo’s departure could have happened much sooner, as Christian Horner revealed that Helmut Marko considered dismissing him back in June, right after the Barcelona GP.
The Challenges Faced by Ricciardo
In the early races of the season, Daniel Ricciardo struggled noticeably with the performance of the VCARB01, often finding himself outpaced by teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Speculation surrounding a potential driver change began to circulate among critics. During a remarkable five substitute appearances in 2023, it became clear that reserve driver Liam Lawson was ready to step into a full-time role. Yet, Ricciardo appeared to find his footing and was given a chance to prove himself.
Horner’s Support and Strategic Decision-Making
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, a long-time supporter of Ricciardo, provided guidance to the Australian driver during his difficult months. Recently, Horner disclosed that had it not been for his efforts, Ricciardo’s time with the team might have ended much earlier. “Ricciardo didn’t start the season well,” Horner admitted in the F1 Nation podcast. “In Miami, he had a split weekend; Friday and Saturday mornings were strong, but Saturday afternoon and Sunday were disastrous.” Ricciardo did manage a fourth-place finish in the sprint race in Florida but suffered a significant drop to fifteenth in the main race.
A Pivotal Moment in Spain
Just two months later, Ricciardo was at the start line of the Spanish GP, having accumulated nine championship points, while Tsunoda had already reached nineteen. Horner recounted: “Helmut wanted to replace him after Barcelona. The pressure was mounting on Ricciardo, but I did everything I could to ensure he spent as much time in the car as possible; otherwise, we would have lost him much sooner.” The psychological strain on Ricciardo became increasingly apparent as he grappled with the inconsistencies in his performance.
The Uncertain Future Ahead
Despite the struggles of fellow driver Sergio Pérez, the highly sought-after promotion to Red Bull did not occur for Ricciardo. “Checo was in a tough spot, and while Ricciardo seemed to improve at times, it wasn’t convincing enough to warrant a change between the two drivers,” Horner concluded. With the possibility that Ricciardo’s last race in Formula 1 may have taken place in Singapore, Helmut Marko mentioned that Ricciardo is always welcome at Milton Keynes for PR purposes.
As the racing world turns its gaze toward the future, the story of Daniel Ricciardo serves as a testament to the ebbs and flows of a racing career, full of challenges, support, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
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