Daniel Ricciardo aka “The Honey Badger” is a name that never fails to bring a smile to the faces of Formula 1 followers. The Aussie driver has won hearts and respect for himself since his debut in 2011. He has won 8 Grand Prix races and held 32 podiums in his career.
Although Ricciardo may appear amiable, beneath his broad smile and easygoing demeanor lies a razor-sharp racer with a bite. A consistent podium finisher during his time with Red Bull, Ricciardo is known for bringing Aussie culture to the world by drinking champagne out of a soggy racing boot- the “Shoey” every time he wins a race.
The Perth pilot faced new obstacles when he moved to Renault’s works team in 2019 and then McLaren in 2021, but his aspirations to become the next Australian world champion were not fulfilled, and he was forced to start 2023 off the grid.
However, he managed to return in 2023, joining Red Bull as a third driver and making enough of an impression to secure a racing seat with sibling team AlphaTauri, now an RB, starting in the middle of the season, replacing Nyck de Vries. His five Grands Prix were missed due to a broken hand sustained in a practice collision.
This was Ricciardo’s year to prove himself to Red Bull boss Christian Horner, that he still has the pace and skills to get a seat alongside Max Verstappen. But the results of the first six races of the 2024 season and also the results of his comeback season, that is the 2023 season speak otherwise.
Daniel Ricciardo made the worst decision of leaving Red Bull in 2018
Ricciardo should’ve stayed at Red Bull way back and just accepted being the #2 driver under Max. He lacks the adaptability within his driving style to make all these different cars work and just never properly found a good flow. He could’ve even won a good handful of races or more over the years if he had stayed. It made sense to move but overall it was the wrong decision.
Ricciardo himself admitted: “I think in the past few years I’ve fallen into the trap of telling myself: ‘I don’t like the car, I have to change this and that.’ Maybe I was my own worst enemy in that regard.”
He was the only one who thought it was a decent idea, almost. But being Max Verstappen’s second driver wasn’t doing anything for his self-esteem, so he felt he had to do it for himself, for his satisfaction. Furthermore, he was aware that moving to a Renault would be a step-down.
However, things didn’t go as planned when he moved to McLaren in 2021, where he thought he would finish his career. At this moment, he was possibly at the lowest point of his career, his contract was prematurely terminated by McLaren in 2022, after which he decided to take a break from racing.
Will Daniel Ricciardo get the Nyck de Vries treatment at RB very soon?
Daniel Ricciardo finished seventh with 6 points in 2023, this year he is yet to score and stands eighteenth on the points table. These concerning results bring about a lot of doubts and questions about his future at RB, gradually shutting down the doors for his return to Red Bull in 2025.
BREAKING: Daniel Ricciardo is replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri with immediate effect! 🔄
HE’S BACK! pic.twitter.com/Xm3RMRIs60
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) July 11, 2023
Right before the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo replaced the Dutch driver, Nyck de Vries at the then AlphaTauri, now RB. This replacement took place due to de Vries‘ poor performance in the races and his inability to score for the team in the ten races he competed in.
It seems history is about to repeat itself, as Red Bull reserve driver, Kiwi, Liam Lawson is also rumored to replace Daniel Ricciardo in the middle of the ongoing F1 season. Lawson had previously been a substitute for Ricciardo in 2023 when he was out for five races post-injury.
Despite denying any immediate intentions, Red Bull has not ruled out the idea of Liam Lawson, a reserve driver, taking Daniel Ricciardo’s place. As Ricciardo’s performance with the squad continues to fluctuate, speculation builds.
Is retirement the only option left for Ricciardo after having a disastrous comeback?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Red Bull does not treat its drivers with patience. You have two options: either you do well or you leave before you ever know it. Ricciardo is aware of it. It appears that he has already received a warning. He will either defeat Tsunoda or fail to complete the season. Lawson’s skill is being wasted by Red Bull by sitting him out. However, patience has its limitations.
“He isn’t as impressive as he was,” some critics have retorted. In the 2024 Formula One season, the seasoned RB driver aimed to establish his value and secure a promotion to the Red Bull team for the following year.
However, his performance hasn’t yet made Sergio Perez redundant, and Ricciardo has been informed that he might not have a full-time drive in 2025 or later.
L’Equipe’s Fred Ferret told F1 Nation podcast: “Yuki Tsunoda is performing better. If Daniel doesn’t perform better, it’s going to be tough for him.”
Ricciardo has failed to outperform teammate Yuki Tsunoda who has succeeded to score for RB. With such poor form, one might wonder if Ricciardo could announce a surprise retirement at the end of the ongoing season, as it had been rumored before the 2024 season commenced.
The raw pace that Ricciardo once had back in his early years seems to be lost under the immense pressure he is going through, to score and retain his seat in 2025 at RB. Only time can tell what’s kept up in Daniel Ricciardo’s future.