Daniel Ricciardo is not in consideration to replace Nyck de Vries in Red Bull's junior team, chief adviser Helmut Marko has confirmed.
Australian driver Ricciardo, 33, is currently a reserve driver for Red Bull but has been tipped to usurp De Vries, with just five races of the 2023 Championship gone. The Dutchman's struggles for junior team Alpha Tauri have led to debate over his future and seen Ricciardo's name return being chucked around after he was sacked by McClaren last season.
However, Red Bull chief Marko has poured cold water on the simmering speculation. "Nothing will happen in the next three races," the 80-year-old explained to F1 Insider. "We spoke to de Vries and he agrees with us: he needs to improve.
"The distance to team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who is doing a great job, is too big. To use footballer jargon, Nick got the yellow card, but not the red yet. If he improves, a driver change will not be an issue."
Marko went on to confirm who is in Red Bull's thinking, declaring: "If the worst came to the worst, we would fall back on our pool of young talent. It's specifically about Liam Lawson and Ayumu Iwasa [both 21]. Ricciardo is not an issue."
Lawson, from New Zealand, and Japanese starlet Iwasa have both been making waves at youth level. Mick Schumacher also isn't being considered, as Marko noted: "He's a Mercedes driver and he's not in our plans. Accordingly, Toto Wolff is responsible for him."
As for Ricciardo, he's been limited to simulator work this season but has confirmed that he'll make his return to the track for Red Bull's 2023 challenger, the RB19, in July. Speaking to DAZN, the beloved Aussie revealed: "I've been in the simulator, but I will drive the RB19 in July after the Silverstone race. I'm getting a Pirelli test.
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"Then maybe I'll get another one after Monza as well in September. A couple of months away [and] I'll get to feel what it's like." Ricciardo added: "I'm just excited to drive again and to just try to remind a team obviously I once had a lot of success with that I can still turn a fast lap."
"Right now, I do want to get back on the grid next year. "I do feel like there's certainly some unfinished business. I'm staying like in the loop and staying prepared and whatever."
