Tag: RB

RB tells Lawson he still has to earn 2025 seat

Liam Lawson says he’s been told to match Yuki Tsunoda to secure himself a full-time seat in Formula 1 in 2025. Red Bull made the decision to drop Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of this season and replace him with Lawson at RB, with the New Zealander …

Liam Lawson says he’s been told to match Yuki Tsunoda to secure himself a full-time seat in Formula 1 in 2025.

Red Bull made the decision to drop Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of this season and replace him with Lawson at RB, with the New Zealander making his first start of the year this weekend at the United States Grand Prix. Lawson says the commitment is only for the remaining six races so far, and that he still has to earn the spot alongside Tsunoda next season.

“It’s pretty simple,” Lawson told RACER. “The sort of target that was set is to basically perform in the seat. They want me to obviously match Yuki, and that’ll give me my best shot at having a seat next year, but it’s always being evaluated.

“They could even say that you’re going to be racing next year, but if I don’t do a good job next year, then obviously they’re not going to put me in the car. And it’s always just going to be like that.”

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Lawson impressed during five races standing in for the injured Ricciardo last year, and he doesn’t feel any added pressure due to increased expectations following those outings.

“It’s definitely not how I look at it,” he said. “Even if you’re an experienced driver, even if you’ve had a great season, if you go into a new season — even a new race weekend — we’re all very short-sighted on this stuff. And if you have a great race weekend, that’s fine, but you basically start again next time, and we’re always being evaluated.

“It’s always going to be like that, regardless if it’s my first six races, or if I’m five seasons in and I’m going into another season. If you’re not doing a good job, then you’re going to be judged — by the team especially — by your performance.

“It’s the same as last year. The only difference is I at least know that I’m getting the six [starts]. Last year, I didn’t know how many I was going to do. But it’s all performance-based, and it always will be. So I guess the sooner I realize and accept that, the better off I’ll be.”

While Lawson is clearly the frontrunner for a full-time seat in 2025 – team principal Christian Horner even hinted he could be in the frame for a Red Bull drive if required – there are also options in the Red Bull junior ranks rising towards F1, with Isack Hadjar the most likely alternative. The French driver is currently second in the Formula 2 standings, 4.5 points off the lead, and has completed three FP1 outings already.

Ricciardo on rumors of RB ouster: ‘Obviously, crazy things have happened in this sport’

Daniel Ricciardo says he expects to see out this season but is awaiting a decision on whether he will have a race seat in 2025 after this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. Red Bull has yet to make a decision on the second RB seat alongside Yuki …

Daniel Ricciardo says he expects to see out this season but is awaiting a decision on whether he will have a race seat in 2025 after this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Red Bull has yet to make a decision on the second RB seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda for next year, with Ricciardo coming to the end of his first full season back with the team but facing competition from Liam Lawson. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has previously suggested there would be clarity after Singapore but while recent speculation has linked Lawson with Ricciardo’s seat as early as the next race at Circuit of The Americas, the Australian says he has no knowledge of an imminent change.

“Let’s say my first expectation is about next year,” Ricciardo said. “So that’s where I’m at at the moment. I can’t give too many details, in terms of contracts — our dates pretty much come into this window now. Basically, I do expect a yes or a no for ’25.

“Obviously, I’m aware of some talk and speculation about the rest of the season. But that for me at the moment, I’m unaware of. The decision I expect is for next year. Obviously, crazy things have happened in this sport. I’m also not going to stand here too boastful and confident. Like, I believe I will be [back], but let’s obviously see.”

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While wary of discussing contractual information, Ricciardo says he doesn’t see a situation in his current deal that would allow him to be replaced after Singapore.

“I don’t think so, but, I also don’t want to stand here and be the lawyer. Look, I would say no, but also, we know how this sport works. People have not seen through a season before. It’s nothing new in some ways. So I don’t want to also be, ‘Oh, 100%, I’ll bet all my house on it.’ I’ve been around too long.”

Ricciardo says nothing has changed since he was told he would not be replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull back in August, and that he’s tried to make sure he doesn’t get too involved with rumors if he hasn’t had any direct feedback from the team.

“I think, all this stuff, what’s crazy about the sport is — and this is me just now just talking a bit of s**t — but I go and get a podium this weekend, and I’m probably the hottest thing in the sport! So that’s the merry-go-round we’re on. I know it can change quickly. I’m aware that things are hotting up so to speak, but I just have to try and get my head down this weekend and kick some ass!

“I think as early as probably Japan or Miami, there was, ‘Am I even going to rock up to the next race?’ I didn’t hear that from the team. But obviously there’s noise about that. You hear that one week, and then I put two good races together and Checo doesn’t, and I’m ‘Oh, am I going to be in the Red Bull in the summer break?’

“So I think the main thing is try not to get too high, try not to get too low. At the end of the day, focus on myself. That’s where I probably learned as well from the past, not to get bogged down in too much other stuff, because that will always be there, that will always exist.

“Control the controllables. And that’s me putting my best foot forward and making sure I’m loving what I’m doing. As much as the year has had some highs and lows, and even now, standing here today there’s a lot of pressure and speculation, I still am happy to be here. I still can’t wait to be in the car tomorrow. I can’t wait to sweat my t**s off. And then we’ll see what happens.”

RB bringing upgrades to continue points run as Ricciardo readies for Zandvoort return

RB technical director Jody Egginton says the team will bring minor updates to the Dutch Grand Prix to try and continue its points run following the summer break. A scoreless first two races of the season has been followed by a run of points from all …

RB technical director Jody Egginton says the team will bring minor updates to the Dutch Grand Prix to try and continue its points run following the summer break.

A scoreless first two races of the season has been followed by a run of points from all but two of the rounds for RB since, including four straight top tens leading into August. From that run, however, only in Hungary did it lead the pack behind the top four teams, with Aston Martin, Haas, Alpine and Williams all having outscored RB in the other races, and Egginton says upgrades are required due to how competitive the field is.

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“Zandvoort presents some different challenges, but we have a solid baseline to take in this race, which, combined with a couple of further minor updates, should allow us to continue to fight towards the front,” Egginton said. “The circuit is a testing ‘Old School’ circuit ranking amongst the shorter circuits on the calendar with 14 corners of various types, combined with short straights with various cambers and many gravel traps, which will punish even the smallest of errors. 

“Achieving a good qualifying is very important here. With regards to the race, as it has been the case for the majority of races this season, we expect a tough fight with our closest competitors for points and we are looking forward to the battle in what is going to be a very intense second half of the season.”

Zandvoort marks a year since Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand in a crash during practice, ruling him out for five races last season, but he says the track was actually suiting him at the time and he hopes to be able to replicate that feeling on his return.

“It’s been a great summer break,” Ricciardo said. “I got back to Australia to see some friends and family, so I’m feeling recharged, fit and healthy.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Zandvoort. Obviously last year it’s where my year turned upside down, but until the accident with Oscar [Piastri], I was really enjoying the circuit, the car was great around there. I’m confident we can continue where we left off before the break, our momentum was strong and we’re definitely in the fight for some points.”

Ricciardo has scored points in three of his last six races, but faces an uncertain future at this stage after Red Bull opted to stick with Sergio Perez beyond the summer break, with Liam Lawson understood to be a contender for a full-time RB seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda in 2025.

Ricciardo still steaming over RB strategy in Hungary

Daniel Ricciardo says he was angered by the strategy RB put him on in the Hungarian Grand Prix and then a lack of apology that followed the checkered flag. RB started last Sunday’s race with both cars in the top 10, Ricciardo ninth ahead of teammate …

Daniel Ricciardo says he was angered by the strategy RB put him on in the Hungarian Grand Prix and then a lack of apology that followed the checkered flag.

RB started last Sunday’s race with both cars in the top 10, Ricciardo ninth ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Both drivers started on medium tires and were jumped by Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen off the line, but Ricciardo was called into the pits on lap 7 — one lap after Albon and Magnussen — to fit hard tires and emerged behind both once again, limiting him to 12th at the finish.

“You don’t want to pull into the pits,” Ricciardo (pictured above with team principal Laurent Mekies) said of the early pit stop. “You get the call and you know that this isn’t the thing to do, but you get the call late and there’s no time to question it. Because then if you miss a lap then it’s even worse.

“But as soon as I pulled in, the cars on softs had pulled in, we’re on a medium, let’s go. Let’s use our clear air, use the pace we’ve got, and then we come out in traffic and it’s just DRS train, and for what? We’re all then on the same tire… That was one of the worst ones that I’ve had in 250-something races — that was a long old frustrating race where I just had a lot of anger.

“We talk about strategies and that… but two cars jumped us at the start with a soft tire. That’s fine, let them go. They pit and we follow them. To then just be on their strategy… We would have had clear air and a chance to [score], I think, from what I understand of Yuki’s race.

“Honestly, I was expecting more. On the in-lap I was waiting for, ‘Sorry. We f****d up.’ And I didn’t get it. So, that made me even more angry.”

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Tsunoda did not make his first pit stop for another 22 laps, going on to finish ninth on a one-stop strategy. Ricciardo says the timing of the result was particularly painful, having highlighted the importance of the two races before the summer break for his future.

“That’s the thing — I feel like we’ve taken ourselves out of the race so early and then we’re expected to fight a car that’s coming a second a lap quicker on newer tires and it’s, ‘What do you want me to do?’

“We just made it so difficult for ourselves when we had pace and we could have just stayed out in clear air, stayed calm and do what we’d done all weekend. We did a race but we didn’t do a race, if you know what I mean. We were just driving around.”

Josh Jacobs details biggest difference between Raiders and Packers

Josh Jacobs doesn’t hold back when comparing his new and old teams.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Josh Jacobs is set to start a new chapter in his professional career in the upcoming 2024 NFL season. After spending five season with the Las Vegas Raiders franchise, Jacobs signed with the Green Bay Packers over the offseason.

The 2019 first-round selection has been a star in the league with his old team, but has publicly stated that he looks forward to his time with the Packers and has already noticed a few stark differences. He mentioned a few of them on a recent interview on the NFL Network.

“I would say one of the main reasons was just the certainty of what I’m going to get,” Jacobs said. “There’s already a lot of structure. There’s already a lot of stuff in place. Having another new head coach over there [in Las Vegas], my fourth head coach while I was there, I never felt like there was any stability.”

Along with his issues with the lack of consistency in Las Vegas, Jacobs mentions the importance of playing on a winning franchise, especially as he looks to secure his legacy in the NFL.

“I can honestly say that as I’m getting older and I’m playing longer, I have a real goal of legacy,” Jacobs said. “I think that’s a big thing — wanting to play in important games, play in the playoffs, make a deep run and, you know, play in that game if we get there. That’s big for me. I think that’s the most important thing.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama football players in the NFL and all things Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Recent NFL player rankings prove Alabama is RBU

No other college football program produces running backs like the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is a fact.

Every year, the annual NFL draft allows for players from programs all across the nation to have their names called, and their professional football journey begin. There is one program, however, that seems to produce more NFL talent than the rest: the Alabama Crimson Tide.

While Alabama has been able to send a player at every position to the NFL under former head coach Nick Saban, the program has done an exceptional job at producing high-caliber running backs who succeed at the professional level.

By constantly sending running backs, among other positions, to the league, the Crimson Tide has made the argument that it is ‘RBU’ for being the program that consistently developing running backs that have successful and impactful careers in the NFL.

A recent ranking of the top-20 running backs in the NFL for the 2024 season by Garrett Podell of CBS Sports features three former Alabama running backs inside the top 10, the most of any single collegiate program.

No. 9 – Josh Jacobs

Nov 12, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (8) reacts after getting first down against the New York Jets during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On this list, Josh Jacobs ranks No. 9 in the league. After being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders and spending his entire young career with the franchise, Jacobs is about to begin a new chapter. In the 2024 offseason, Jacobs signed with the Green Bay Packers and will be the team’s lead ball carrier.

No. 8 – Jahmyr Gibbs

Nov 19, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs the ball against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Former Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a phenomenal rookie season with the Detroit Lions and he is expected to step it up in his sophomore NFL season.

“He became just the eighth rookie in the 21st century to total more than 900 rushing yards (945) and at least 10 rushing touchdowns (10) while averaging at least five yards a carry (5.2, third most in the NFL among running backs in 2023, on 182 carries),” writes Podell. “The company Gibbs keeps with his rookie year production is among some of the NFL’s best when it comes to Pro Bowl running backs.”

No. 2 – Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) tries to get past Houston Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman (6) during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.
Syndication: The Tennessean

Former Alabama Heisman-winning running back Derrick Henry had a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Tennessee Titans, but he will now be the featured running back for the Baltimore Ravens after making the move as a free agent during the 2024 offseason.

“Alongside reigning NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson in the Baltimore Ravens backfield, Henry should have much wider running lanes to work with since the Ravens’ registered a Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade of 67.9, the eighth best in the league,” writes Podell. “That’s a considerable upgrade from the Titans’ 60.2 PFF run-blocking grade, which ranked 17th in the NFL. King Henry is set up to rule once again in 2024.”

There’s no telling if these stars will remain in the top 10 as the 2024 NFL regular season goes on, but there’s also a chance other former Alabama football standout running backs will enter the list, as well.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Alabama RB Justice Haynes tabbed as potential breakout player in college football

Alabama running back Justice Haynes is ready for the spotlight, and experts and putting the nation on notice.

The Alabama Crimson Tide football roster is loaded with talent heading into the 2024 college football season. Though legendary head coach Nick Saban retired, the program is still in good hands as former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer is now at the helm.

Plenty of key contributors return from last season. While many would initially think of star quarterback Jalen Milroe, another member of the Tide’s offense may be stealing headlines this upcoming season.

In 2023, running back Justice Haynes was a true freshman, but managed to see some meaningful playing time, amassed 168 rushing yards on 25 carries, and even reached the end zone twice—a small role, but significant for a freshman in a Saban-coached team.

Heading into 2024, Haynes is primed for a lead role in the Alabama backfield. While it’s still unclear what plans DeBoer has for the team’s offense, it will certainly feature Haynes.

ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti named Haynes in a list of 10 players nationwide who could break out and become big-time names in the sport. Haynes was No. 5 on the list.

“Last year in Tuscaloosa may not have gone the way Haynes, then a true freshman, envisioned. He finished with 168 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, but he showed enough flashes to let the Tide faithful know what was coming in the future. Now, under new head coach Kalen DeBoer and with the departure of both Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams, Haynes could be primed for a big second season.”

Haynes is entering a golden opportunity to showcase his talents on one of the biggest stages in all of college football, as the eyes of the nation will follow Alabama throughout the 2024 season due to a difficult schedule and it being DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Haynes and other Alabama football news as the 2024 college football season approaches.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Former Alabama RB Jase McClellan selected by Atlanta Falcons in Round 6 of 2024 NFL draft

Jase McClellan is headed to the NFL after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft!

Former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jase McClellan finally heard his name called in the 2024 NFL draft as the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the sixth round.

McClellan joins a Falcons backfield headlined by former Texas Longhorns standout Bijan Robinson. The former member of the Crimson Tide will have to work hard in the offseason to earn a roster spot and a contributing role on the team for the upcoming 2024 season.

In 2023, McClellan had a career season. On 180 carries, he rushed for 890 yards and eight touchdowns, while also reeling in 15 receptions for 137 yards.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama players making the transition to the NFL as the draft concludes and the offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

RB expects top five gap to take at least half of year to bridge

RB team principal Laurent Mekies believes his team has no chance of bridging the gap to the top five teams before updates arrive later in the season. The opening three races have shown a split in terms of race performance between the top five of Red …

RB team principal Laurent Mekies believes his team has no chance of bridging the gap to the top five teams before updates arrive later in the season.

The opening three races have shown a split in terms of race performance between the top five of Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Aston Martin, and then the remaining five teams. Yuki Tsunoda’s eighth place at the Australian Grand Prix lifted RB up to sixth overall, but despite out-qualifying both Aston Martins and Lewis Hamilton, Mekies thinks just staying in sixth will be tough.

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“At the moment that gap is too big,” Mekies told RACER. “The first part of the season, you need to forget about it. It will already be a massive fight to stay in the fast part of that midfield group, and I think everything we are going to be able to bring to the car is probably going to be barely enough to stay there.

“So we are gearing for a tough first part of the season, and then hopefully in the second part of the year we are able to bring a little bit more.”

Tsunoda’s result in Melbourne was the first time RB has scored points this year and puts it ahead of Haas based on best finish, with the latter securing a highest of ninth. Mekies says taking advantage of every opportunity is crucial, as he feels the team has shown the qualifying pace to lead the bottom five teams at all three rounds so far.

“It’s clear that with the way the field is right now, with the top five teams quite a long way ahead of the bottom five teams, every point is going to be gold,” he said. “Because if these guys [ahead] don’t have a problem you’re going to finish P11, even if you top your group. So it’s very good to put four points in the bag.

“It was on the edge in Bahrain – were P11 in Bahrain, I think 0.007s from Q3 – and then we got Q3 in Saudi, we got Q3 [in Melbourne], so we are topping that group but with virtually zero margin. It’s on the edge all the time. It’s great for racing, it’s great for fans, and it’s great for us. But I think it’s about nailing every race weekend.

“If you nail the race weekend, you know that you are topping the group. After that, it’s going to be a development race that is going to start now.

“We will have a small update for Japan, I’m sure the other guys will as well, but it’s a combination between that development race and having to nail absolutely everything on the race weekends to be able to go home with some points.”

Ricciardo blocking out negativity as he stays confident of turnaround

Daniel Ricciardo feels that he is on the verge of delivering stronger performances and results because he is feeling so good behind the wheel, despite a tough Australian Grand Prix. The Australian arrived at his home race off the back of a …

Daniel Ricciardo feels that he is on the verge of delivering stronger performances and results because he is feeling so good behind the wheel, despite a tough Australian Grand Prix.

The Australian arrived at his home race off the back of a frustrating start to the year, failing to score in either of the first two races and struggling in Jeddah with his car’s handling. RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda outqualified him comfortably in Saudi Arabia and again in Melbourne — where he went on to finish an impressive seventh — while a Q1 exit limited Ricciardo to 12th, but the 34-year-old insists he’s in a good place to produce better results.

“I came into this weekend really, honestly, deep down believing we were going to have a very, very good weekend,” Ricciardo said. “And in terms of the noise, people tell me, in the media, like ‘so and so said’ and it’s the first I’ve heard. It’s obviously no disrespect to you guys.

“I know that I’m on this little process or journey at the moment, and I just need to focus on myself. If I let any of the noise in, it’s going to kind of distract me from the path I’m on. I think it’s been really good, I haven’t let any of that maybe negative stuff creep in.

“I also understand that I didn’t expect to start the season like this. Budapest last year, I drove the car a day before, and outqualified Yuki and had a really strong race with no knowledge. Having a full pre-season and all that, and all the races last year, I honestly thought that this year, we would start a lot stronger.

“There is that, which I understand not only me but a few people are wondering why. I think the important thing is that I stay on course — it’s not that my head is filled with nonsense or anything. I honestly feel good, and just unfortunately the results haven’t made me feel awesome, but deep down behind the wheel, I do feel good and excited.

“I just want to keep racing. I’m sure I’ll find a bit more in myself, and I still believe maybe we’ll find a little something on the car.”

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Ricciardo also feels that his form is likely to click at the start of a weekend and continue, rather than be the result of a long process of trying to find a bit more pace from this year’s RB.

“I hope so,” he said of a quicker turn of form. “I’m asking the team a lot of questions, and I think we will have some bits and pieces come onto the car in the next one, two races. I expect it to be a pretty quick turnaround, and before you know it, we’ll be doing great again… Nah, I kind of say that jokingly, but I do believe it. So yeah, we’ll hopefully turn it around.”