Red Bull’s Lawson Dilemma: Horner Hints at Driver Market Shake-Up, Ricciardo’s Future in Jeopardy

Liam Lawson's revelation about a leasing option introduces a fresh twist to the racing driver landscape

Mention of contract detail impacts Daniel Ricciardo's situation

Christian Horner has shed light on Red Bull's decision-making process regarding whether to retain or part ways with Liam Lawson.

Helmut Marko's assertion that the young racer Lawson would occupy a seat within their team, apparently indicating either Red Bull or its affiliate team RB, sparked considerable discussion before this weekend's Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo seemed to be in the most precarious position as the sole driver without a contract for 2025 within the existing group at Red Bull and RB.

Horner has now emphasized that Marko's remark does not automatically imply that Lawson will be given a spot in one of the team's vehicles.

"The Red Bull team principal hinted at the presence of other cars on the F1 grid during a conversation with Sky Sports, referring to it as 'a drive'."

"I directly questioned Marko, who confirmed that Lawson is set to compete in Formula 1 the following year."

We have the option to lease him. That's something we could consider.

"Everything is uncertain. Should we decide against exercising our option on Liam, he will be an available driver for 2025."

"There are particular intervals within the drivers’ agreements when this becomes a significant factor."

I confirmed with Helmut. His response was, 'No, I didn't specify which vehicle, I mentioned going for a drive…'

Horner's acknowledgment seems to verify that Red Bull possesses a contractual agreement regarding Lawson, allowing them to either secure him a spot in their vehicle or in an RB, or risk parting ways with him the following year.

This year, the skilled individual from New Zealand is serving as Red Bull's backup and test driver, posing a continuous challenge to the main racers.

The recent surge of confidence in the previously struggling Sergio Perez has turned the spotlight onto Ricciardo.

Throughout this season, RB's Ricciardo has mostly been overshadowed by his teammate Yuki Tsunoda in terms of performance.

Ricciardo has shifted from being seen as a potential replacement for Perez at Red Bull to fervently holding onto his current seat for the 2025 season.

Concerningly, Ricciardo has not secured a deal for the upcoming season, suggesting Lawson might quickly replace him.

Horner's suggestion that Red Bull might "lease" Lawson adds another layer of complexity to the driver market.

Only three seats in the 2025 Formula 1 driver roster have yet to be officially filled.

A seat is allocated to Mercedes, likely to be taken by Kimi Antonelli, while Ricciardo's position at Red Bull is another, and an additional one is available at Sauber.

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