The 2024 Formula 1 driver’s market is a story that’s never going to go away until all 20 seats are confirmed for next year.
Half the grid is now confirmed for next season, leaving 10 drivers still fighting for their futures in the paddock for the rest of the season.
British racing driver and pundit Richard Bradley was speaking on the On Track GP Podcast about the future of one driver in particular.
Every race weekend is an opportunity for drivers to impress and teams to assess who they want sitting in their car next year.
It was another tough event for Logan Sargeant at his home Grand Prix and Kimi Antonelli continues to lurk in the background at Mercedes, taking part in private tests in case he’s called upon.
He clashed with Kevin Magnussen in Sunday’s race who is also trying to earn a new contract for next season.
However, Richard Bradley has suggested that Daniel Ricciardo won’t be driving for Visa Cash App RB in Imola.
The Australian driver – who has 32 podium finishes in his career – had the definition of a mixed weekend in Miami.
That might not be enough to save him with Yuki Tsunoda once again outscoring his more experienced teammate.
READ MORE: Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Richard Bradley thinks RB will drop Daniel Ricciardo before Imola
There were signs that things were turning around for Daniel Ricciardo at the Chinese Grand Prix.
He was the stronger of the two RB drivers throughout the weekend and would have been in with a shout of scoring points before Lance Stroll ended his race by driving into the back of him at the safety car.
However, that form was carried into the beginning of the weekend in Miami, securing the team’s best qualifying spot of the season – starting 4 in the Sprint Race.
Ricciardo did a brilliant job to hold onto that position ahead of Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri and score his first five points of the season.
Unfortunately, Ricciardo suffered a Q1 exit for the main Grand Prix and never looked like challenging for a top-ten finish on Sunday.
Bradley believes that two good sessions won’t be enough to save Ricciardo’s seat and he won’t be in the car in Imola.
It would be an incredibly early switch in the campaign with 18 race weekends still left to run this year.
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 future still being questioned
Asked if we expect to see Daniel Ricciardo in Europe for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Bradley said: “I don’t think so, no.
“If you just look at it, it was one qualy and one race he did a very good job in that, but let’s actually look at it in terms of overall at the beginning of this year.
“That’s two good sessions out of how many? I’m sorry but I think the writing’s on the wall.
“Liam Lawson is proven, he’s right there.”
If Bradley is right and RB do drop Ricciardo before the next race in Imola, it would be incredibly harsh.
The last couple of races have shown that he looks much more comfortable with the 2024 RB car and his chassis switch appears to have made a difference.
While he’s not quite matching Tsunoda’s pace when both drivers are at their peak, a strong Q3 performance in Miami shouldn’t be ignored.
Carlos Sainz was impressed with what he saw from Ricciardo at the end of the Sprint Race on Saturday.
He’s rated as one of the best overtakers on the grid right now and needs to start showing that sooner rather than later.
The post ‘Writing’s on the wall’: British driver thinks 32-podium star will lose his seat before the next race in Imola appeared first on F1 Oversteer.