Visa Cash App RB driver Daniel Ricciardo has been under pressure ever since the first few races of the 2024 F1 season.
His return to the grid was highly anticipated and with RB forming a closer relationship with current champions Red Bull, there were even suggestions he could be challenging for podiums.
However, things haven’t gone to plan for Daniel Ricciardo and speaking on The Race Podcast, journalists Edd Straw and Scott Mitchell-Malm have been discussing his options for next season.
When he returned to the Formula 1 paddock, Ricciardo admitted that his dream was to finish his career with Red Bull.
That looks very unlikely to happen right now, but considering the volatility of the rest of the grid, he may be thinking about leaving the Red Bull group once again.
However, two Formula 1 teams appear to have no interest in signing Ricciardo for next season.
One is French outfit Alpine and the other is Williams, although considering both teams have only scored a point between them this season, that may not be the end of the world for the Australian.
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Two F1 teams have no interest in signing Daniel Ricciardo for 2025
Daniel Ricciardo would have hoped that the glimmers of genuine pace he showed in 2023 at the Mexican Grand Prix following his return to the grid.
However, it quickly became apparent that if any RB driver was going to be putting pressure on Sergio Perez with his contract running out, it was Yuki Tsunoda.
The Japanese driver was seriously frustrated that he was told to let Ricciardo pass him at the season opener in Bahrain but since then, the 34-year-old hasn’t been close enough to his teammate for team orders to play a role.
Both Ricciardo and Tsunoda are understood to be out of contract at the end of the season.
There is also the looming presence of Liam Lawson in the garage at every race weekend with the young Kiwi expected to be on the grid in 2025.
If it comes purely down to performance, then Tsunoda will be Lawson’s teammate at RB next season.
That means Ricciardo might need to look for a new seat, although Williams and Alpine are two teams who are prioritising other options.
Ultimately, Ricciardo didn’t return to F1 at this stage of his career to make up the numbers and if the chance of joining Red Bull is ruled out completely, then it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him walk away from the sport.
Daniel Ricciardo faces uncertain F1 future
Talking about Ricciardo’s position in the driver market, Straw said: “He’s not considered an option because he isn’t for Williams or Alpine, they’re not interested in him particularly and I think for [Daniel] Ricciardo it pretty much is all or nothing.
“Either he makes his case, goes to Red Bull, gets into a top car again or he says it’s not quite working and it’s leaning towards not quite working.
“Overall this season he’s clearly been the second-best RB driver by a reasonable margin.
“I don’t think Daniel will keep on endlessly in midfield machinery. I think this is the last roll of the dice.
Mitchell-Malm added: “And I think the point about choosing between the best car on the grid or not being on the grid at all, I don’t think it’s quite so binary but ultimately I believe Ricciardo is under contract.
“Red Bull has an option on him for 2025, so he’s not an option to others because he’s an option to Red Bull as well, that’s another factor.
“So, he’ll either be in Red Bull Racing or an RB or he’ll be off the grid, that is more likely than not the scenario.”
Will Daniel Ricciardo survive the 2024 season?
Teams may not have Ricciardo at the top of their shortlist for next season, but he’s one of two drivers facing suggestions that he could be moved on before the end of the year.
The other is Williams driver Logan Sargeant who may be replaced by Kimi Antonelli once the Italian turns 18.
The trouble for Ricciardo is that Liam Lawson appears to have been promised a race seat next year and proved when he replaced him at Zandvoort in 2023 that he’s more than capable of jumping straight into an F1 car.
If Ricciardo isn’t going to be in line for a promotion, then he’s blocking a seat in Red Bull’s junior team for a young driver to take advantage of.
Helmut Marko has laughed off suggestions that a driver swap is imminent.
But he needs to improve his performance quickly to avoid being the man to miss out on 2025.
The post ‘Last roll of the dice’: Two F1 teams now 'not interested' in Daniel Ricciardo as 2025 option – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.