Daniel Ricciardo breaks silence after Red Bull hammer nail into F1 coffin

As one door closes, Aussie F1 veteran Daniel Ricciardo’s options appear to be down to two in the fight for his career in the sport.

Daniel Ricciardo isn't giving up. Photo: Getty Images

Daniel Ricciardo has insisted his dream of a Red Bull swan song is not over yet despite the team renewing Sergio Perez’s deal earlier in the week.

It was a bitter blow to the 34-year-old Australian, who had hopes of pushing his way back into the seat he vacated in 2019 when he left for Renault.

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After two years at Renault and another two at McLaren, Ricciardo had hoped to push his way back into the top team to partner Max Verstappen, and had been putting pressure on the Mexican in 2023.

But while Perez hasn’t set the world on fire and is currently ranked fifth in the driver’s championship in 2024, his four podiums in eight races ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend were enough to convince Red Bull to stick with him for a further two years.

It’s a bitter pill for Ricciardo, who is six months Perez’ senior and faces a fight to even keep his seat with his Visa Cash App RB team after a horror season.

Expected to have made short work of teammate Yuki Tsunoda, after eight races, the Japanese youngster holds a 7-1 lead in qualifying, a 6-1 record in races (both men had DNFs in China) and a 19-5 lead on the drivers championship table.

Not only that but Ricciardo has been seen as not a “real alternative” to Perez and brutally, he’s not getting any younger.

Ricciardo hasn’t given up. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

While Fernando Alonso at 42 and Lewis Hamilton at 39 are older than Ricciardo, they have both won multiple world championships, a feat the Aussie hasn’t achieved.

But ever the optimist, Ricciardo doesn’t believe his shot at the Red Bull top team is over.

“It doesn’t surprise me and it doesn’t change anything for me,” Ricciardo told Sky F1 about Perez’ new deal.

“Obviously, my goal, at some point, I’d love to be back there [at Red Bull]. But I also know that my season hasn’t been spectacular. I had a spectacular moment I think in Miami, but otherwise, I’ve been a bit up and down.

“And look, I’ve been doing this long enough, I know myself that I want to be doing better.

“I think already after the first few races, I was just very focused on trying to do the most I can here. And through that, then I’ll have maybe the most control over my future.

“So up until now, yeah, I haven’t probably been awesome enough, but equally, I am happy being here and just being back in the Red Bull family.

“So we’ll keep charging forward and yeah, I don’t think now it means it will never happen. But we’ll see.”

Perez’ deal has slammed the door shut. Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images/AFP

As the Red Bull door closes, Ricciardo is looking to hold onto his place in the sport with young New Zealander Liam Lawson waiting in the wings.

As Tsunoda has schooled the veteran Aussie in 2024, with a fourth placed finish in the Miami sprint race the only points he’s had to show for his efforts, speculation has been rife that Lawson is poised to replace Ricciardo.

While RB management has been positive about the line up, F1 fans know that could just as easily be the kiss of death for the star.

However, Ricciardo’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda has been linked to a move to Aston Martin or Haas, even admitting he’d consider other offers if he wasn’t promoted at Red Bull — which obviously he hasn’t been.

It leaves Ricciardo in limbo in the sport, but the Aussie has offered a pragmatic response about his future in the sport.

Still can’t wipe that smile off his face. Photo: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images/AFP

“The mindset hasn’t changed,” he said via Speedcafe.

“We’re not halfway through the season yet but we’re fairly into it now.

“I’ve had one result which I was really, really happy with, and then others which have been maybe less so.

“So I just, I guess, hold myself probably accountable for not doing anything too spectacular.

“When you’re obviously trying to fight for a top seat, you need to be doing some pretty awesome things.

“That’s why I say I don’t think it means it will never happen,” he added of a possible Red Bull Racing return.

“It’s still a place I’d love to finish my career, but obviously in the short term that’s not going to happen.

“So mindset wise, that was still kind of an end goal.

“Right now, I’m here … I need to do well and get some more points, and I’m happy doing that here.

“The team is doing a good job to help me out with that, so it’s just up to me.”