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Helmut Marko insists Crimson Bull “by no means thought of” handing Daniel Ricciardo an F1 reprieve as they weighed up their choices to exchange Liam Lawson.
After a troubled begin to the 2025 F1 season, Lawson has returned to Crimson Bull’s sister group, with Yuki Tsunoda drafted in forward of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix to companion Max Verstappen.
The 23-year-old Kiwi was booted out of Crimson Bull after simply two races following his promotion from Racing Bulls, having been chosen as Sergio Perez’s substitute over the winter.
Lawson initially obtained the nod over Tsunoda however the pair have now swapped seats in a bid to assist Lawson regain his confidence following his nightmare Crimson Bull stint.
Tsunoda will develop into Verstappen’s fifth teammate since Ricciardo left the group on the finish of 2018.
Ricciardo hoped to pressure his means again into the Crimson Bull fold when he obtained an opportunity to return with their junior group mid-way by way of 2023, however the Australian’s poor performances finally noticed him make means for Lawson with six rounds to go final 12 months.
Regardless of remaining Verstappen’s best teammate, Marko pressured Crimson Bull by no means considered calling Ricciardo, who made an look within the F1 paddock on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
“No, that was by no means thought of,” the 81-year-old Austrian instructed Motorsport.
“Daniel had his final race and has since utterly distanced himself from Formulation 1.
“He was briefly in Australia, sure, however I believe he left once more on Thursday. It was by no means a subject.”
Ricciardo already hinted his time in F1 was up
Following his swansong look ultimately 12 months’s Singapore Grand Prix, eight-time grand prix winner Ricciardo indicated that his F1 profession was over.
“I’ve to acknowledge it is clearly been a bit little bit of a race-by-race scenario and I’d clearly have liked the weekend to have gone higher,” Ricciardo instructed Sky Sports activities on the time.
“It did not, so I’ve to be ready for this perhaps being it. For example I am at peace with it. In some unspecified time in the future it’s going to come for all of us.”
He later added: “I additionally must acknowledge why I got here again [to the Red Bull stable in 2023] after the McLaren stint.
“I at all times mentioned I do not need to come again simply to be on the grid, I need to try to battle again on the entrance and get again with Crimson Bull.
“Clearly it did not come to fruition so then I additionally must ask myself the query: ‘Properly, then what else can I obtain and what else us there to essentially go for?’
“I put my finest foot ahead, for example the fairytale ending did not occur however I additionally must look again on what it has been. 13 or so years and I am proud.”
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