Ricciardo issues 'no fear' response to Marko claim

Daniel Ricciardo insists he is not living with the "fear" of potentially losing his F1 seat at RB following recent comments from Helmut Marko. 

Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko suggested ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix - Ricciardo's 250th in F1 - that RB reserve driver Liam Lawson would be promoted into the seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda, possibly ending Ricciardo's career. 

Ricciardo had hoped strong 2024 performances at RB would earn him a return to Red Bull to replace Sergio Perez. The Mexican, however, is staying on, whilst the Australian has struggled at times alongside Tsunoda.

The eight-time grand prix winner, however, feels if he can still show strong results on track, then his future will be in his own hands.

"If I perform, I feel like there is a very good chance to stay here and that will be the dominant and most over-riding factor," Ricciardo told media including RacingNews365.

"It doesn't affect my performance and I'm not driving the car now thinking I am fighting for my seat, maybe two years ago when I lost my seat [I was but] I don't live with a fear of this.

"I didn't read [Marko's comments] actually but obviously I am informed about these things and the way I see it is simple. 

"It will always be performance-based and me coming back to the Red Bull family is something that I really love. 

"It is a nice story and all that, but it isn't done and that is what I am trying to do."

Ricciardo to hit 300?

After Marko's comments, RacingNews365 ran a poll asking who readers thought would partner Tsunoda in 2025 - Ricciardo or Lawson. 

On his landmark weekend where he will become just the 12th driver to reach 250 starts, readers voted, with the results available here. 

Ricciardo, however, is sure he could possibly reach the even rarer 300 grand prix club in which just six drivers are currently members, including Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.

"If I am still the driver I know I can be, then I would say there is a chance of reaching 300," he said.

"The way I see it, at this point in my career, if I want to be here, if I can still do it, I can still perform at this level and 50 more races is two seasons at this rate."