You’d think knocking Max Verstappen out of qualifying and scoring the team’s most impressive result of the year would guarantee a full-time seat in Formula 1.
However, despite his points finish in Singapore, New Zealand’s Liam Lawson will, reportedly, have to wait a little longer as multiple sources indicate AlphaTauri plans on extending the contracts of both Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda for the 2024 season.
“We expect Yuki Tsunoda to be confirmed for 2024 this week at Suzuka [Japanese Grand Prix],” tweeted respected F1 journalist Tobi Grüner.
“Ricciardo announcement will follow later. Mick Schumacher is not an option for Williams. He’s looking for a double job — WEC driver at Alpine and F1 reserve at Mercedes.”
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The prevailing sentiment, of course, is that this may be a mistake given the promise Lawson — who has stepped in to replace Ricciardo while he recovers from a fractured hand sustained during the Dutch Grand Prix — has already demonstrated in a short amount of time.
Contrast that to the inconsistencies (and downright bad luck) of his far more experienced teammate in Tsunoda, as well as the somewhat questionable view that the veteran Ricciardo (himself a mid-season replacement for Nyck de Vries) is already well beyond his prime.
But considering the marketing and PR value of the Aussie talent, whose multi-million-dollar smile attracts branded support in spades, and the fact that Honda (power supplier to AlphaTauri) probably wouldn’t be too happy about the grid’s sole Japanese driver being given the boot, it’s practically a no-brainer.
Money, after all, talks. And everything else walks.
Liam Lawson is rumoured to remain at AlphaTauri as a reserve driver, and depending on how the 2025 shuffle pans out — which hinges on whether AlphaTauri’s senior team Red Bull Racing decides Sergio “Checo” Perez will keep partnering with reigning two-time world champion Max Verstappen — he’ll only have to do so for another year.
It’s certainly no secret that Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the Red Bull Racing family as the third man, and now a pilot for its junior team, has been something of an audition to replace Perez.
“We’ve loaned [Ricciardo] to AlphaTauri until the end of the year. Obviously, our drivers are going to be Max and Checo again next year. But it’s always good to have talent in reserve,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner on the F1 Nation podcast.
“He firmly wants to be pitching for that 2025 Red Bull seat. That’s his golden objective. And by going to AlphaTauri, I think he sees that as his best route of stating his case for 2025.”
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In light of the supposed tensions within Red Bull Racing’s current lineup between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez — plus Sergio Perez vs the team in general — one could easily foresee an outcome wherein Checo is ousted in favour of the prodigal son (Ricciardo).
Translation: Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri in 2024 may very well be the direct pipeline for Red Bull Racing in 2025.
For the time being, however, all we can do is await solid confirmation.
