Daniel Ricciardo has made it his habit to make headlines now and then. Since his comeback, the Honey Badger has made it clear that he is here to stay. He has also highlighted that he wishes to get back into the Red Bull seat. As the No.2 for Visa Cash App RB, his return to F1 in 2023 hasn’t been the most glorious. From fracturing his wrist, to not performing to his full potential, Ricciardo has been having a hell of a time recently.

Time and again, Daniel Ricciardo has been given the ultimatum about being replaced if he’s unable to prove himself. And from time to time, Red Bull has given him hope for the second seat in the main team. In Canada, VCARB announced Yuki Tsunoda’s extension, but Ricciardo- Well, he must prove his capability! So, a question keeps arising: Where will Daniel Ricciardo be in 2025?

Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Ricciardo gave a quick update on his contract negotiations. “Canada obviously helped. I needed a result like that. Obviously, I would like to stay. Now that I’m back in that Red Bull family, I really don’t see myself anywhere else, so that’s where I’d love to stay and continue,” said the Australian.

With Sergio Perez’s two-year contract extension at Red Bull, Ricciardo’s return to the Milton Keynes outfit before 2026 is almost impossible. At the beginning of the season, Ricciardo was failing to outqualify his teammate. This led his supporters to think that Ricciardo too would get the ‘Nyck de Vries’ treatment. Miami saw the first spark of hope. Ricciardo qualified and finished fourth at the Miami Grand Prix sprint race. But, the result of the main race was just another disaster. The second spark of hope was seen in Montreal. In a turn of events, Ricciardo outdid Yuki Tsunoda to finish ahead of Tsunoda. But now, the challenge ahead of him is to maintain his performance. Moreover, he must compete with Liam Lawson for a confirmed seat in 2025.

Sergio Perez’s contract extension is shutting the doors to Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull dream

While Liam Lawson waits to become a full-time driver at VCARB, Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull dreams seem to be potential trouble. There had been speculations on Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull. This is because of his inconsistent performance. Experts had analyzed that Perez was most definitely exiting the squad. But playing ‘UNO Reverse’ on all speculation, Red Bull extended Checo’s contract by 2 years. When asked for his opinion on this extension, Daniel said his performances were ‘just not good enough’.

Daniel Ricciardo (L), Sergio Perez (R) | Image Courtesy: Imago

Despite Sergio Perez’s consistency in underdelivering, this move by Red Bull came as a shock to many. Ricciardo took accountability for himself. He failed to deliver the performance required to convince Red Bull. This ultimately led to the missed opportunity. Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 journey after his comeback has been a story of setbacks and promises. His aspiration to claim a seat at Red Bull, where he was in his prime, has been met with challenges. With Sergio Perez‘s recent contract extension at Red Bull, Ricciardo’s immediate return to the main team seems improbable.

With an uncertain future in F1, Ricciardo must now look ahead. He should maximize his performance, holding on to his seat at VCARB, and continuing in the sport until he retires. In Formula 1, where fortunes can change rapidly, Ricciardo’s determination will be crucial in shaping his future in the sport he is so passionate about. What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments.