The Formula One (F1) world is buzzing with anticipation as the Red Bull driver line-up for the remainder of the season hangs in the balance. At the heart of the intrigue is a potentially high-stakes showdown between seasoned veteran Daniel Ricciardo and the prodigious talent of New Zealand’s Liam Lawson. Sergio Perez is currently Red Bull’s second driver, but he faces the axe as his poor run of form threatens the team’s championship ambitions.
A filming day event at the Imola Grand Prix (GP) later this week could be a massive turning point in the Red Bull driver saga. Ricciardo and Lawson are set to share driving duties in a 2022-spec AlphaTauri, which will give Red Bull a golden opportunity to directly compare the two drivers. The team have debunked speculation that the filming day event is not a shoot-out between Ricciardo and Lawson, claiming the test is for content purposes only. However, many people believe Red Bull plans to use the event as a yardstick to determine who will replace Perez if the Mexican is axed from the team.
Red Bull held a comfortable 115-point lead in the constructors’ championship rankings earlier in the season, but Perez’s slump has opened the door for McLaren to close the gap to just 42 points. The team want to take decisive action to preserve their lead heading into the second half of the F1 season. Ricciardo or Lawson could take Perez’s place when F1 resumes after the summer break.
Lawson represents the future of Red Bull’s driver program. The young New Zealander has impressed during his limited F1 opportunities, showcasing raw talent and a fearless driving style. He impressed during his five-race cameo in place of Ricciardo last season when the Australian broke his hand during practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. However, his performance wasn’t enough to earn him a place in the senior team, and he was relegated to the reserves.
Lawson fired a warning at Red Bull last month, affirming he will not wait around for a call-up from the organisation after being overlooked for a senior role. He asserted that he could seek an F1 promotion elsewhere if the team doesn’t offer him a full-time seat in 2025, so it could finally be time for Red Bull to reward the 22-year-old for his patience.
Red Bull have a history of placing their unwavering trust in talented but inexperienced drivers, and Lawson’s record suggests he could be a wise bet for the team. Given his immense talent, top betting sites NZ would be inundated with wagers from Kiwi punters if Lawson is given the nod by Red Bull.
Lawson might be an unknown quantity, but betting on him to make an immediate impact in F1 could be a savvy move by sports bettors in New Zealand. His standout performance during a practice session with Red Bull earlier this season provided a glimpse of his massive potential.
By contrast, Ricciardo is an eight-time Grand Prix winner and boasts 32 podium finishes in F1, so he brings a wealth of experience and race-winning pedigree to the table. However, his performances since leaving Red Bull in 2018 has been marred by inconsistencies, and his tenure at McLaren was particularly tumultuous.
Despite a recent uptick in form, Ricciardo’s results don’t inspire confidence in his abilities. However, he is familiar with the pressure of driving for a leading team, which makes him a compelling candidate. Ricciardo recently discussed the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s driver seat and insisted that he wouldn’t hold it against the team if Lawson got Perez’s spot ahead of him. However, since returning to Red Bull, the Australian has made it clear that he intends to reclaim the seat he gave up when he joined Renault in 2018.
“I put enough trust in Red Bull that, if a change were to happen, whoever gets it, I feel they will have the right reasons to be in there,” Ricciardo said.
Meanwhile, RB driver Yuki Tsunoda has also thrown his hat into the ring and claimed it would be weird if the parent team picked Lawson to replace Perez ahead of him. Tsunoda isn’t in the running to replace his Mexican counterpart but believes he should be considered ahead of Lawson, given his track record.
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