Helmut Marko pushed for Daniel Ricciardo's early exit from RB, with Christian Horner revealing Marko wanted the Aussie out after the Spanish Grand Prix. Horner admitted he bought Ricciardo time, stating the veteran would have been replaced much earlier without his intervention. Ricciardo showed flashes of speed, notably in Miami practice and a strong Montreal weekend after Jacques Villeneuve's criticism, but his inconsistency ultimately sealed his fate.
Ricciardo was originally positioned as a potential successor to Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing, but his performance was never compelling enough to warrant a switch despite Perez's own struggles. Liam Lawson's promotion is a clear audition for a future Red Bull seat, even though Sergio Perez is contracted for 2025. Red Bull continues evaluating its junior pool, including Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad, and even external options. While Horner hopes Perez rediscovers his early-season form, F1's volatile nature means nothing is guaranteed. Lawson's opportunity is now.
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