Christian Horner & Co. Give Daniel Ricciardo Given an Ultimatum? Red Bull CEO Breaks Silence

Daniel Ricciardo‘s situation can be seen as one that has fallen from fame. The multiple Grand Prix winner is struggling at the bottom of the pecking order with 0 points for the Racing Bulls. This year, every race will be a test to see if he deserves his seat in VCARB and the pressure is on him.

Yuki Tsunoda’s performance will put additional pressure on Ricciardo as Tsunoda is ahead with 7 points after the Japanese Grand Prix and has out-qualified the Honey Badger in all races in 2024. While the team is yet to confirm anything, Peter Bayer came forth to talk about the Aussie driver.

Daniel Ricciardo faces the Red Bull ultimatum

Daniel Ricciardo’s promotion to the senior bull will only come when he significantly outperforms Yuki Tsunoda and Sergio Perez. However, the Australian is having difficulties with his car and, just like it was with McLaren, he isn’t used to the car yet.

Peter Bayer, the team boss, came forth to say that he wants to support the driver instead of taking him off the grid. Stating, “The car works within a relatively small, marginal limit range,” Bayer explains how it is a difficult vehicle to master. To get the hang of it, Ricciardo will need to handle the car with “extreme sensitivity,” according to Bayer.

Finally, pointing out Ricciardo’s biggest weakness, Bayer said, “And Daniel has problems, especially with the brakes.” Having breaks that are too sensitive can be a difficult issue to overcome. However, the team is working on optimizing his setup for the Chinese Grand Prix. This will be the first time the Great Circus will be visiting China after the pandemic.

That being said, what is Daniel Ricciardo’s answer to the rumors of him getting off the grid next year?

Daniel Ricciardo’s approach for the 2024 season

“I don’t want to just be here to be here,” said Daniel Ricciardo to Speedcafe.com during a recent interview. He stated that he was ready to earn his seat in Racing Bulls for the next year and wanted to push the team further up. Explaining his state of mind, the Aussie asked the two questions on his mind and answered them, “But is it more fun fighting at the front? Is it more fun fighting for podiums and wins? Absolutely.”

Giving confidence to his fans, Riccardo answered why he is still a driver, saying, “Because I believe I can stand on the podium again. I can win races again. Ultimately, that is it.” The Honey Badger has always been one of the more popular figures in the sport and a lesser-known fact is that he is the 10 highest points collector in the history of the sport with a whopping 1317 points in his career. Having 8 Grand Prix wins, even one with McLaren during one of his worst years, he is yet to show the promise that people believe he has.

That being said, do you think Daniel Ricciardo will redeem himself and become a 9-time race winner? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.