SHOCKING NEWS: Daniel Ricciardo brutally told to retire after Jacques Villeneuve… Read More 👇
Daniel Ricciardo brutally told to retire after Jacques Villeneuve… Read More 👇
Daniel Ricciardo is once again under scrutiny, with calls for him to retire from Formula 1 becoming louder. The Australian driver, currently with the Visa Cash App RB team, is facing an uncertain future as Red Bull weighs its options for the 2025 season. Despite hopes earlier in the year that Ricciardo might replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull due to the latter’s struggles with the RB20, Perez was ultimately retained after a crucial discussion with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko. This decision has left Ricciardo in a precarious position, as his future with Red Bull beyond 2024 remains unclear.
Ricciardo’s difficulties have fueled discussions about his potential exit from the sport. Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel is among those who believe that Ricciardo’s time in F1 may be over. Coronel, a seasoned racer himself, has suggested that Ricciardo should consider stepping away from racing and pursuing a career in commentary instead. According to Coronel, Ricciardo has not been successful in Formula 1 for a long time and might be better suited to a post-retirement role in the media.
“A few years ago, when Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull and went for the money at Renault, I already knew it,” Coronel said in an interview with Formule1. “He chose the dough and not his racing heart.”
These comments are not the first time Ricciardo has faced criticism this year. His relationship with former Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has become particularly strained, especially after an incident at the Canadian Grand Prix in June. Villeneuve, known for his outspoken nature, launched a harsh critique of Ricciardo, questioning why the Australian was still competing in F1. Villeneuve’s comments came just before Ricciardo secured his first points of the season with an eighth-place finish.
Villeneuve’s remarks were cutting. He dismissed the idea of a “Ricciardo 2.0” narrative, arguing that the driver had simply lost his edge. “It’s a nice story, the Ricciardo 2.0 who has learned from his mistakes – blah, blah, blah – but he just doesn’t get it anymore,” Villeneuve said. “He didn’t succeed at McLaren, he didn’t succeed at AlphaTauri, and he’s never going to succeed again. Be honest with yourself.”
Villeneuve went further, suggesting that Ricciardo’s image had kept him in F1 more than his actual performance. According to Villeneuve, the Australian has been struggling for the last five years, failing to deliver the results expected of him.
Ricciardo did not take Villeneuve’s comments lightly. In response, the 34-year-old fired back, telling Villeneuve to “eat s***” and insinuating that the Canadian might have suffered some head trauma during his time playing ice hockey. Villeneuve, however, was unshaken by Ricciardo’s reaction and doubled down on his criticism, calling into question the Australian’s professionalism.
The tension between Ricciardo and Villeneuve highlights the growing scrutiny on Ricciardo’s career. With 10 races remaining in the 2024 season, Ricciardo faces the challenging task of proving his critics wrong. Currently, he trails his teammate Yuki Tsunoda by 10 points, with Tsunoda having accumulated 22 points so far this season. The gap between the two drivers has raised questions about Ricciardo’s ability to remain competitive in the sport.
Ricciardo’s situation is complicated by the presence of Liam Lawson, a young driver who is being groomed as a potential replacement for the Australian. With Tsunoda already confirmed in the seat for next year, Lawson’s rise could spell the end of Ricciardo’s tenure with Red Bull.
The pressure on Ricciardo is palpable, and his future in Formula 1 is far from secure. If he is unable to close the gap to Tsunoda and deliver strong performances in the remaining races, his critics may be proven right. Coronel’s suggestion that Ricciardo should consider retirement and a move into commentary may not be far off the mark, especially if the Australian driver fails to regain his form.
For now, Ricciardo remains focused on the task at hand. However, the clock is ticking, and the next few months could determine whether he remains in Formula 1 or if it is time for him to step aside and embrace a new chapter in his career.
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