Daniel Ricciardo‘s Formula One future is in serious jeopardy amid reports the charismatic Australian is set to lose his seat to Liam Lawson.

Speculation has mounted after Red Bull chief Helmut Marko conducted an interview with Austrian publication Kleine Zeitung, in which he was asked about Ricciardo’s performances with the junior team, RB.

Ricciardo has failed to make a positive impression in his bid to reunite with Max Verstappen at Red Bull. As such, the all-conquering team have opted to retain the incumbent Sergio Perez for 2025.

And given that Ricciardo has no chance of driving for Red Bull next year, Marko admitted that discussions have been held over giving the seat to Lawson, a younger driver with more potential.

‘The shareholders have made it clear that it is a junior team and we have to act accordingly,’ he said.

‘The goal was that (Ricciardo) would be considered for Red Bull Racing with exceptional performances. That seat now belongs to Sergio Perez, so that plan is no longer valid.

‘We will have to put a young driver in there soon. That would be Liam Lawson.’

Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula One career is in serious jeopardy after a dismal season

Red Bull chief Helmut Marko said that there are doubts among the RB shareholders

Marko said that young driver Liam Lawson is in line to take Ricciardo’s seat

Following Marko’s comments, veteran Formula One journalist Joel Saward reported that the move could be made in a matter of weeks.

‘So, Lawson will be in for Ricciardo at some point. I’d guess the end of July,’ Saward posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

That would almost certainly spell the end for Ricciardo as an F1 driver, with RB offering the veteran a lifeline after he was brutally axed by McLaren at the end of 2022.

However, in a twist, a Red Bull spokesperson later told Sportskeeda that Ricciardo’s seat is currently safe.

‘There will be no change to the driver line-up for the foreseeable future,’ the representative said.

Ricciardo’s deal with RB expires at the end of the 2024 season and there are only a few seats remaining for the 2025 campaign.