Helmut Marko confirms Liam Lawson... as Daniel...

Helmut Marko confirms Liam Lawson… as Daniel Ricciardo put on… Read more

Helmut Marko has confirmed that Liam Lawson will secure a full-time seat in Formula 1 next season, leaving Daniel Ricciardo in a precarious situation as the final stretch of the current season unfolds.

Liam Lawson, the promising New Zealander, gained significant attention when he stepped in for Ricciardo during the Australian’s injury break in 2023. Lawson’s performances were impressive, leading to widespread speculation about his future in Formula 1. Despite his strong showing, Red Bull Racing’s leadership, including Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, ultimately decided not to offer him a full-time drive for the 2024 season.

Instead, Lawson was placed on standby as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull, with the promise of a future race seat in 2025. This situation left Lawson in a challenging position, with no guaranteed racing opportunities but a clear path to a full-time seat in the near future.

However, Red Bull is now making good on that promise. Speaking to the Austrian publication *Kleine Zeitung* ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Marko revealed that Lawson will indeed be on the Formula 1 grid in 2025. “Next year he’ll be sitting in one of our cars,” Marko stated, confirming that the young driver will finally get his chance to compete at the highest level of motorsport.

This announcement brings renewed pressure on Daniel Ricciardo as he heads into the final 10 races of the season. Ricciardo, who made his return to the Red Bull family with AlphaTauri (formerly Scuderia Toro Rosso) in the latter part of 2023, now faces an uncertain future. With Yuki Tsunoda already locked in for 2025, Lawson’s arrival would likely mean the end of Ricciardo’s time with the Faenza-based team.

Ricciardo’s focus remains on securing the second seat at Red Bull Racing, currently occupied by Sergio Perez. The 35-year-old Australian has made it clear that he is not interested in exploring options with other teams, making his situation a high-stakes gamble. For Ricciardo, it’s all or nothing – he either secures the coveted spot alongside Max Verstappen or faces the prospect of being out of a competitive seat in 2025.

Perez’s performance in the remainder of the season will play a crucial role in determining Ricciardo’s fate. The Mexican driver has had a mixed season, with strong showings offset by periods of inconsistency. Many observers had speculated that Perez might be replaced during the summer break, but Red Bull’s management, including Horner and Marko, opted to stick with him for now.

“If ‘Checo’ can consistently bring his normal speed, we’ll be happy,” Marko commented, addressing Perez’s fluctuating performances. “But he always has these fluctuations somewhere, whether in qualifying or a certain part of the race. The consistency is not there, that’s the problem.” Perez’s ability to maintain a high level of performance will be under close scrutiny as the season progresses, with Ricciardo waiting in the wings for any opportunity to step into the Red Bull Racing seat.

The situation underscores the high-pressure environment at Red Bull, where driver performance is closely monitored and decisions can hinge on a single race or qualifying session. For Ricciardo, the path forward is clear: he must continue to perform at his best with AlphaTauri while hoping for an opening at Red Bull Racing. Any slip-ups by Perez could provide Ricciardo