Ricciardo reveals when his RB future will become clear

Daniel Ricciardo has stated that a decision about his F1 future – both in the short and long-term – will be taken after the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, with the Australian uncertain over whether he will still be on the grid in 2025.

With just two seats available on the 2024 grid, at RB and Kick Sauber respectively, speculation has continued to mount over who will partner Yuki Tsunoda at the former, and Ricciardo and reserve driver Liam Lawson – who impressed whilst standing in for an injured Ricciardo during five races in 2023 – are the two names most frequently linked to the spot.

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This has also seen rumours emerge that Ricciardo could potentially be replaced at the team before the end of 2024, but the 35-year-old told media ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix that he will not be able to give an update on his future until after the weekend.

“I think that’s when decisions will be made and for us that know the contract, that’s where the dates fall,” he explained. “After the weekend we’ll know more.”

Pushed on whether his result at the Marina Bay Street Circuit could influence whether he is still in the car for the final six races of the year, Ricciardo responded: “I actually heard something that I won’t be in the car for this race as well! That was after Japan or something earlier this year.

“Look, I know how it is and how it works and I knew there was always going to be some dates and deadlines this year whether it was summer break or now post-Singapore. Honestly it’s still so many things are up in the air. Let’s see how the weekend goes.

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“Obviously I’m going to give it all I can as I have, and there’s always something to fight for but we’ll see what happens. Try and get the thing on the podium, that’s my plan.”

Ricciardo has faced mixed fortunes during the 2024 campaign, with the eight-time race winner having so far been outscored by team mate Tsunoda despite an improved run of form during the middle of the season.

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In terms of whether he expects to be on the grid in 2025, Ricciardo conceded: “Next year, I don’t know. I think I will definitely know in between this break and pre-Austin, my other home race.

“I obviously don’t say it with confidence because nothing’s signed on the dotted line yet and I know until it is, I’m not going to say ‘yay I’ve got one’ because that could be silly.

“I know my season, I hoped for more from myself but I also think that around Montreal when the pressure was definitely building and ramping up, I think since then it’s actually been certainly more positive than not. That’s what I’ll keep trying to do, and if it’s enough it is. If not then that’s obviously up to Red Bull.”

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While there have been some struggles since returning to Formula 1 with RB midway through 2023, Ricciardo has no regrets about how he has approached things during his comeback, despite previously voicing hopes of making his way back to the main Red Bull team.

“I’m never going to bring a violin to one of these press conferences and say ‘poor me’,” he added. “There’s many moments I look back at my career and I’m obviously very grateful to, up until this point, have had a long career in this sport.

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“There’s ebbs and flows, there’s up and downs, there’s moments where you feel like there was an opportunity. That’s what it is, that’s how it goes. That was the goal coming back into the sport after the little six months off, to try and fight my way back to the front of the grid and be in a top seat.

“Obviously if those doors aren’t open, I’ve also said for a while that I don’t really just want to be here maybe fighting for a point every few races.

“That’s more looking down the track, but obviously this year I’ve approached everything I think in the correct way and given the team everything I can. Sometimes it’s been good enough, sometimes not, but that’s not through lack of effort or trying. No sadness or ‘woe is me’ feelings.”