F1 News: Daniel Ricciardo Could Face Replacement By Liam Lawson According To Insider

Saajan Jogia | Apr 10, 2024

Oct 22, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Scuderia Alpha Tauri driver Daniel Ricciardo (3) of Team Australia / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

VCARB/ RB driver Daniel Ricciardo displayed evident disappointment after his early retirement from the Japanese Grand Prix. With a lackluster start to the 2024 season, where he has been consistently outperformed by teammate Yuki Tsunoda, Ricciardo faces increasing pressure to prove himself. Channel 4’s Formula 1 presenter, Steve Jones, hinted at the possibility of a driver swap within the team if Ricciardo's struggles persist.

Key Takeaways:

• Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB/RB driver, expressed visible disappointment following his early exit from the Japanese Grand Prix, amidst a challenging start to the 2024 season where he has been consistently outshone by teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
• With Ricciardo failing to secure any points in the first four races and Tsunoda impressively landing in P11 with seven points, pressure mounts on Ricciardo to prove himself.
• Speculation arises about a potential driver swap within the team if Ricciardo's struggles persist, with Red Bull reserve driver Lawson ready to step in, reminiscent of past mid-season changes.

Parent team Red Bull set higher expectations this year from the Australian driver, who was expected to bounce back from challenges he faced in 2023 to prove himself worthy of a Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen in 2025.

However, with four races of the 2024 season already done and dusted, Ricciardo has failed to score even a single point to date as he is placed P17 in the Drivers' Standings. Tsunoda on the other hand, has landed himself in an impressive P11 with seven points, just two less than Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in P10.

Ricciardo managed to find his rhythm at Suzuka during qualifying, coming close to securing a spot in Q3. However, it was Tsunoda who ultimately edged him out. In the Grand Prix, Ricciardo's race ended prematurely on the first lap due to a poor start before he collided with the fast-starting Williams of Alex Albon, resulting in both cars hitting the barriers.

Considering the way Ricciardo's season has been shaping up, Jones asked Formula 1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto, who spoke to a dejected Ricciardo in Japan. Barretto explained:

“I did [speak to him]. He was much, much, much down in the dumps I would say.

“Disappointed, couldn’t find any positives, couldn’t really explain anything. Had nothing really to say on the matter.”

From Barretto's verdict, Jones believes something could soon change within VCARB if Ricciardo doesn't pull his socks up, especially when Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson is on standby with his stellar five Grands Prix display in 2023, while Ricciardo underwent surgery on his hand. Just like how VCARB ousted Nyck De Vries mid-season last year due to non-performance and brought in Ricciardo, the 34-year-old driver could face a similar plight if he continued to underperform. Jones added:

“It’s tough, we’ll keep an eye on it, but I feel something is going to change quite soon, possibly."