Ricciardo is hopeful for a comeback with the main Red Bull team. He emphasizes that his approach to Formula 1 races remains unchanged, despite the rumors of him potentially replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull. Last season, Ricciardo returned to the Red Bull setup with hopes of reclaiming his seat alongside Max Verstappen, which he had left in 2018. However, Perez’s ongoing struggles have sparked speculation about his future, even though he recently signed a contract extension with the team. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that a review will take place during the upcoming summer break, considering the clauses in Perez’s contract. Ricciardo, who is also facing pressure to secure his place at RB, has experienced an upturn in performance and believes that a Red Bull revival is possible. Despite the importance of the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, Ricciardo insists that his preparation remains unchanged. He expresses his satisfaction with his current situation compared to the first few races of the season, stating that he has been able to extract more from himself in recent races. Ricciardo believes that he is trending in the right direction and remains focused on himself and maximizing his own performance. He acknowledges that the narrative in Formula 1 changes frequently and understands the need to adapt to the ever-evolving sport.
Ricciardo asserts that an unprecedented situation where he could either be elevated to Red Bull or dismissed entirely has placed an additional focus on delivering.
“I don’t want to say that your worth is solely determined by your most recent race, but in these moments, these races hold more significance than any other,” he explained.
“So, as I mentioned, approaching Budapest, and this wasn’t something I had heard from them, but even just personally, I told myself, ‘look, these could be two very crucial races in my career and I need to give it my all and do everything I can’. Because, obviously, moving up is my ultimate goal.
“I would love to return, but there are also discussions about whether I will even be here.
“So, there is so much at stake. And yeah, I believe that’s why I made a conscious effort to prepare for every race.
“And of course, you do what you can. But for these upcoming two races, I made it a point to give it my all. And that’s it. So yeah. We’ll see.”
The eight-time F1 race winner has disclosed that he remains in constant contact with Red Bull boss Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko regarding his performance.
“I still communicate with Christian and Helmut on that side quite frequently,” he confirmed. “And yeah, I mean, a lot of things still go through them, honestly.
“It’s nice to see them after a positive result. Helmut will definitely let you know when the result is not good.
“But I genuinely feel content being back in that situation and under that kind of scrutiny, if you will, and in that atmosphere with a bit of that pressure, it’s enjoyable.”
