Nyck de Vries is already fighting for his Formula 1 career just five races into his first full season on the grid.
As a Formula 2 and Formula E champion, the Dutchman has a great racing CV. And, after scoring points on his surprise F1 debut with Williams last year, De Vries became hot property wanted by several teams to fill their driver vacancies for this season.
AlphaTauri beat the competition to the 28-year-old's signature, but things have not started very well for De Vries in his full-time F1 debut. He is pointless after his first five races and hasn't come close to threatening a top 10 finish, while team-mate Yuki Tsunoda has been in points contention at every race so far.
Most F1 rookies need patience in their early days on the grid, but they are rarely afforded such a luxury. Drivers on the Red Bull payroll are expected to deliver results from the get-go, and plenty have paid the price in the past for not living up to expectation.
De Vries could soon add his name to that list unless he manages to find form quickly. According to Motorsport.com, driver development programme chief Helmut Marko has handed the Dutchman an ultimatum.
Unless De Vries can raise his performance levels in the upcoming triple-header of races in Italy, Monaco and Spain, he will be at serious risk of being replaced mid-season. If that happens, Red Bull reserve Daniel Ricciardo is may well get the nod to return to the F1 grid.
He is back with his old team after his McLaren spell failed to go to plan. The Aussie enjoyed some highs – most notably his Monza victory in 2021 – but mostly struggled to get to grips with what was a tricky car to get to grips with.
Ricciardo is scheduled to drive Red Bull's RB19 for the first time at Silverstone this summer, after the British Grand Prix. But he could be getting behind the wheel of an F1 car much sooner than that if De Vries is unable to find better form.
The 33-year-old has already spent some time at AlphaTauri's Faenza base to undergo a seat fitting. It is understood that this was always the plan given he is also a reserve for Red Bull's sister team, but it does mean there will be one less thing needed if he were to make a return to the grid.
The other contender for De Vries' seat, should AlphaTauri choose to make a change, would be Liam Lawson. The New Zealander is racing in Super Formula this year and has begun the season well, winning the first race in Fuji and is third in the drivers' standings after three outings.
