Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has acknowledged that the decision to replace Daniel Ricciardo with Liam Lawson for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season is influenced by concerns over Sergio Perez’s future with the team beyond 2024. Despite Perez having a contract in place for next season, his inconsistent form has prompted Red Bull to keep their options open for 2025.
Ricciardo, who returned to the Red Bull fold this season, made his final appearance for the team at the Singapore Grand Prix. Lawson will take over his seat for the remaining six races. Horner explained that this move allows Red Bull to assess Lawson’s potential in a real-world racing environment, particularly in light of the broader picture regarding their driver lineup for 2025.
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Horner stated, “In a perfect world, we would have kept Daniel in the car, but we need answers for the bigger picture, particularly in terms of drivers for 2025. With six races remaining, it’s the perfect opportunity to give Liam a chance alongside Yuki Tsunoda and see how he performs.”
Horner’s comments also reflect a degree of uncertainty regarding Perez’s hold on his seat, despite his contract for next year. “We have a contract with Sergio for next year, but you’ve always got to keep an eye on what comes next. Is Liam going to step up? Or do we need to look beyond our pool of drivers? These are the questions we need to answer.”
When asked about the seemingly harsher treatment of Ricciardo compared to Perez, Horner revealed that Red Bull’s advisor, Helmut Marko, was keen to replace Ricciardo much earlier in the season, potentially after the Spanish Grand Prix. Horner, however, extended Ricciardo’s time in the car to allow him more opportunity to recover his form.
“I’ve done my best to give him time, but ultimately, Daniel was in that car to be ready if Checo didn’t deliver,” Horner explained. “Both drivers had issues with form at different times. Checo started strong, but then lost form, while Daniel found a bit of momentum. However, it was never enough to make a compelling case to switch them.”
Horner added that while Perez’s improvement is the ideal outcome, Red Bull is prepared to evaluate all options. “Obviously, we hope Checo finds his form again, but in this business, things can change quickly. If Liam doesn’t impress or if Checo doesn’t recover, we know what Daniel is capable of.”
This decision marks a critical juncture for Red Bull as they assess their long-term driver strategy, with Horner leaving the door open for Ricciardo’s potential return if the circumstances align, despite his ambassadorial role with the team.
