RB ‘not in a hurry’ to confirm 2025 line-up as Bayer says team ‘lucky’ to have junior options

RB chief Peter Bayer has stated that the team are “not in a hurry” to confirm who will be driving at the team alongside Yuki Tsunoda in 2025, with the CEO admitting that the squad have several options available to them for the seat.

Daniel Ricciardo’s place at the Red Bull sister outfit has come under scrutiny of late, given that the Australian has been outscored so far by Tsunoda in the 2024 campaign. However, Bayer has praised Ricciardo for his influence on the team since joining midway through 2023.

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“He certainly has helped us tremendously,” Bayer commented during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. “Looking back last year when he joined the team, he brought a whole new energy and spirit into the team, and he has been extremely helpful in supporting Yuki.

“Yuki has just stated that very recently, actually, that he still keeps learning from Daniel. And it's part of our job, also as a mission from the shareholders, to develop drivers, and that's what we currently do.”

In terms of Ricciardo’s chances of remaining at RB in 2025, Bayer acknowledges that the squad’s priority is to improve the car before deciding on who will partner Tsunoda – who has already been confirmed to extend his time with the team – next year.

“Certainly, this is about performance,” Bayer continued. “We do luckily have a couple of options with the junior programme, but we're also not in a hurry to take a decision for next year's line-up.

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“We've confirmed Yuki, which was very important for us. And the focus currently, honestly, as you can tell, is on the car and to go into the summer break and have a quiet discussion.”

One name linked to the seat besides Ricciardo is RB reserve driver Liam Lawson, who impressed many when he stepped in for the injured 35-year-old for five races in 2023.

Reflecting on the speculation surrounding Lawson, Bayer said: “Liam is part of the team, he's our test driver, he's in the simulator. As most of you know, he'll be in the TPC [Testing of Previous Cars].

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“We do our job to develop young drivers, but the decision on the second seat will be taken quietly and we're not in a hurry.”