By Rae Wee
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Daniel Ricciardo said he was unaware of any decision to replace him amid speculation that Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix could be his last in Formula One.
Asked about rumours he could be dropped by Red Bull-owned RB in favour of New Zealander Liam Lawson, the 35-year-old Australian remained focused on 2025.
“My first expectation is about next year, so that’s where I’m at at the moment,” he told reporters in the paddock on Thursday.
“I can’t give too many details but in terms of contract our dates pretty much come into this window now, so basically I do expect a yes or a no for ’25.
“I’m aware of some talk and speculation about, you know, the rest of the season but that (being replaced) for me at the moment I’m unaware of,” added the eight-times winner who is out of contract at the end of 2024.
“So the decision I expect is for next year.”
The paddock rumour mill has been churning with speculation that Lawson, 22, could be drafted in to satisfy the terms of his contract with Red Bull, who otherwise risk losing his services.
Lawson stood in for Ricciardo at five races last season when the Australian was injured, scoring two points with ninth in Singapore.
NOTHING NEW
Asked directly if there was a scenario in his contract where Singapore could be his last race, Ricciardo replied:
“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, so it’s nothing new in some ways.
“So I don’t want to also be like ‘Oh no, 100% (safe), I’ll bet my house on it’. I’ve been around too long.”
Ricciardo acknowledged “some of the noise around” had changed since the August break and recognised the season could have gone better.
The Australian, who made his comeback last year after a difficult stint at McLaren, has scored 12 points from 17 races compared to Japanese team mate Yuki Tsunoda’s 22.
Tsunoda has been confirmed for 2025, a campaign Ricciardo had once hoped would see him return to the Red Bull senior team alongside triple world champion Max Verstappen in place of Mexican Sergio Perez.
Verstappen told reporters separately that Ricciardo, a friend and former team mate, should not feel sorry about anything.
“Being in this kind of position is never nice,” said the championship leader. “Sometimes things maybe don’t work out the way you want them in certain stages of your career, but you still have achieved a lot more than anyone could ever dream of.
“Even if this is, let’s say, the last race or whatever, he can still look back at something amazing that not many people can achieve.
“And do something else maybe in life also. Why not? Many more other race series, maybe just chill back at the farm, have a lot of fun. I mean, he’s a great guy.”
(Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris)
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