At the end of last year, there was speculation that Daniel Ricciardo might replace Sergio Pérez at Red Bull for the 2025 Formula One season.
Ricciardo expressed his desire to return to Red Bull, the team he left in 2018, when he came back mid-season with AlphaTauri (now RB). As Pérez struggled towards the end of the season, the possibility of Ricciardo taking his seat became stronger.
However, Ricciardo’s performance in the early part of 2024 did not support his case. He was frequently behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda and only secured a P4 finish in Miami. This led to Pérez getting a contract extension through 2026, ending Ricciardo’s chances of moving up anytime soon.
Following Pérez’s confirmation, Ricciardo admitted that he needed to take responsibility for not delivering exceptional results. He shifted his focus from fighting for a top seat to fighting for his current seat by the Canadian Grand Prix.
Jacques Villeneuve leveled harsh criticism at Daniel Ricciardo in Montreal. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Jacques Villeneuve, a former F1 world champion, criticized Ricciardo in Montreal, questioning his performance and suggesting that his image kept him in F1 more than his results. While harsh, Villeneuve’s comments had some truth to them.
Ricciardo, however, bounced back during the Montreal weekend with an impressive qualifying session and a P8 finish in the race, earning his first points of the season.
Ricciardo qualified P5 and finished P8 over a rainy weekend in Montreal. (Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Montreal marked a turning point for Ricciardo, who now aims to maintain his positive momentum and intensity moving forward.
(Lead photo of Daniel Ricciardo: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)