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Daniel Ricciardo expects Red Bull to provide a definitive decision regarding his future for the 2025 season and beyond, after the 2024 Singapore GP. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, the Red Bull driver admitted uncertainty surrounding his career as he addressed the growing speculation.
Following the Baku GP weekend, rumors circulated about Ricciardo being replaced by Liam Lawson. Ahead of Singapore, new speculation suggested that the night race could potentially mark the end of his career. Clarifying the situation, the eight-time Grand Prix winner explained that while he awaits a decision from Red Bull, it pertains to the 2025 season and beyond.
Regarding the possibility of not completing the 2024 season, the 34-year-old acknowledged that it remains to be seen how events unfold after Singapore. He suggested that the window to deciding his future for 2025 and beyond was near.
Asked by the media about the speculation surrounding his future, Ricciardo said:
“I mean, let's say my first, and let's say expectation is about next year. So that’s, let's say, where I'm at at the moment, in terms of, let's say where I'm at, obviously I can't give too many details, but in terms of contract here, our dates pretty much come into this window now. So basically I do expect a yes or a no for 25. And then yeah, I know there's obviously, I'm aware of some, some talk and speculation about, you know, the rest of the season. But that for me at the moment, I'm unaware of. So the decision I expect is for next year, but obviously crazy things have happened in this sport. So I'm also not going to stand here too boastful and confident, but oh yeah, like I believe I will be, but let's obviously see.”
Daniel Ricciardo reflects on the glaring reality of his 2024 performances and its impact on his future
Daniel Ricciardo admits he wishes his performances in 2024 had been more consistent, acknowledging that this inconsistency has contributed to uncertainty amid Red Bull’s internal decision-making. With Lawson waiting in the wings, the Milton Keynes team’s choices have become more challenging.
While Ricciardo has rediscovered his speed following his stint at McLaren, he concedes that consistency has been lacking. He explained that maintaining steady form in the midfield is particularly difficult due to tight battles and limited opportunities to stand out.
Ultimately, Ricciardo believes that Red Bull’s decision regarding his future rests in their hands. Asked if his inconsistent form had made Red Bull’s decision-making harder, he said:
“I mean I don't wish to be in the middle for sure. But look that's obviously I look back at my year and yes you know, if you asked me in January- how do you think a year's going to go I would have said yeah I expected to have gone better than this. But it's not through yeah lack of anything really I just I've really felt like I put everything into it this year and okay sometimes the result doesn't you know come out the way you wish or hope or doesn't always translate to maybe the effort you put in. But that's that sport. So yeah look you can always argue both ways you know it's like anything any you're gonna have fans and people that see the good. But you're going to have others as well who see "oh well" but you know it wasn't consistent enough or this or that. So yeah look I'm always gonna look myself in the mirror and try to be as critical on myself as possible and I wish I'd found some more consistency this year. But honestly getting back into the sport after let's say the McLaren period, I was more just looking for speed and and yeah like proving to myself that I could still run at the front with these guys and there has been moments of that.”
Explaining the impact of his performances on the future, Ricciardo added:
“Obviously I wish I could produce it every weekend but if I take a little bit of heat away from myself, I think it's also hard to do in a midfield battle. You know, every track kind of suits one or the other and it's hard to shine when you're in such a tight fight. So that's where I think all of us drivers have had moments this year. But it's been hard for someone to be consistently at least in the midfield battle to consistently be the guy at least from what I've seen. So yeah, it's tricky but if I've made it hard on them or not, at the end of the day they're gonna they're gonna make the decision and at least you know I'll put in everything I can and not you know kind of not feel like I could have done more there or like I've applied myself. So then the rest is in their hands.”
Daniel Ricciardo’s contract is set to expire at the end of 2024, with a potential promotion to Red Bull’s senior team being his only option for 2025. Following the Belgium GP, he was rumored to be in line for a mid-season promotion to replace Sergio Perez, but that did not materialize. Now, just two race weekends later, the narrative has shifted against him once again.
Daniel Ricciardo finds himself in a dilemma, uncertain about his 2024 and 2025 seasons, while Red Bull has yet to decide regarding Lawson. Clarity is expected to emerge after the Singapore GP, with a potential announcement before the Austin race. In the drivers’ standings, Ricciardo is ten points behind his teammate but has outperformed him in five of the last six race weekends.
