Daniel Ricciardo says he has no interest in a move outside of the Red Bull family despite uncertainty over his future at RB.
Red Bull’s decision to stick with Sergio Perez over the summer break closed off a potential opportunity for Ricciardo, and Helmut Marko has recently said that a decision on Liam Lawson’s future would be announced soon. With Yuki Tsunoda having already signed for 2025, Ricciardo could find himself without a seat if Lawson is promoted from his reserve role, but the Australian says he isn’t interested in any of the remaining vacancies elsewhere on the grid.
“It’s just there [Red Bull],” Ricciardo said. “I’m most happy being back here. And speaking on performance, it’s kind of nice not looking elsewhere and having other little distractions, because I can just focus on this. It’s an all-in approach, but I think that approach will also get the most out of me, and if that is still not enough then c’est la vie.
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“That kind of intensifies it, but also simplifies it, so I think it’s the best approach. And also, it’s not coming from a stubborn place, but I don’t really want to be anywhere else.
“Maybe that’s why [the focus is only on Red Bull], maybe it’s like ‘Well nobody’s reaching out, so screw them!’. No, I’m not going to say everyone’s calling me saying ‘Hey if this doesn’t work, we’ve got something for you’, but I think also I’ve been quite open about not wanting to… I’ve obviously done a bit of jumping around the last couple of years, and that in itself can be tiring.
“I feel like I’ve worked my way back to this place, and also Red Bull has given me the opportunity to be back here, so it’s not something I just want to dismiss. And also, what’s the next thing?There is no next thing for me. This is it, and I’m appreciative of what they’ve been able to give me now, and I really just want to try and make it work with them.”
Ricciardo admitted he felt there was a chance he could get promoted in place of Perez over the summer break but hadn’t expected it to happen, and Red Bull reiterated its support for the Mexican soon after the Belgian Grand Prix.
“Look, I didn’t rule it out,” he said. “For sure I don’t want to say, ‘Oh no, I never thought that’. I thought maybe something could happen but I also didn’t expect it or get my hopes up. I was aware that maybe something changes, but let’s just do what I’m doing and if I get a call I get a call. So that was that.
“Obviously I didn’t get a call, but also that was probably where I’d mentally prepared myself for rather than ‘This is it now, this is going to happen’. So, pretty unchanged.
“It’s OK. I still know that performance is my best friend, and if I do what I know I can do and am capable of then I think that puts me in a very good position to stay somewhere in the family for next year. So I’ve just got to focus on that.
“Speaking on Liam, obviously I got to see him drive the car last year and I do think that he did a great job, I do think he’s worthy of a seat on the grid, so in a way I’m happy for him. If he is guaranteed a seat for next year then I think that’s good, because he is a deserving driver. So then what that means for me is probably a little bit unknown, but if I perform then I’m sure they’ll find a spot for me somewhere!”