Ricciardo talks contract negotiations ahead of Spanish GP

One of the many drivers without their future locked in, Daniel Ricciardo is carrying his points-scoring attitude into contract negotiations with RB, looking to “earn” his 2025 seat on merit as he takes to the familiar Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend. 

The Canadian Grand Prix was an event in which Ricciardo set out to disprove public scrutiny, having faced the cutting words of the 1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve in the build-up to the weekend.

The #3’s mission was a success, with his flying qualifying result of a P5 start putting him in a strong position for the 70-lap thriller.

The Australian ultimately crossed the line in eighth place to score four points for RB, despite his positive result coming after only his teammate’s future had been secured. 

Heading into Qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix, RB had announced that Yuki Tsunoda would be continuing on with the team into 2025, extending the Japanese driver’s contract for another year.

With Ricciardo’s season still riddled with highs and lows, the team are yet to make a call on extending his contract, leaving all eyes on the battle between the Australian and the tempting option of Liam Lawson for the last available seat in the Red Bull family.

“Canada obviously helps,” Ricciardo said. 

“I needed a result like that. 

“Obviously I would like to stay, so as I say, now that I’m back in that Red Bull family that’s where… I really don’t see myself anywhere else, so that’s where I’d love to stay and continue. 

“I also said, I think, before the weekend in Canada that, you know, I obviously want to earn it. 

“I don’t just want it to be like, ‘Yeah. Yeah. OK. Stay another year’. 

“I obviously want to be here because I know that I still belong here and can do performances like I did last week. 

“So it’s also up to me just to make sure that I can keep pulling it out, and in that case, then I’ll be very happy to stay.”

Coming into the bulk of the European races and the first triple-header of the season, Round 10 sees the majority of the grid weighed down by the stress of securing a seat next season.

Ricciardo admitted that the negotiation process can be “very taxing” on a driver, with his hopes of dissolving the distraction promptly only being achieved if his on-track performance correlates. 

“It’s tough because […] there’s not really just one thing behind a decision,” he said.

“There’s so many… It can be very taxing. 

“Of course, you need to give it the time required because it’s your future and it’s your career and obviously something you work very hard for, but also […], at some point you just want to make the decision and kind of move on. 

“It’s tough because you can’t take it lightly, it’s one of those ones. 

“We’ve all been through it in some way, shape or form, but I think it means a lot to us and that’s why we obviously put so much weight on it.”

Partaking in his first Spanish Grand Prix since 2022, Ricciardo feels a step up in the performance of his VCARB 01 should be in order. 

“We’re expecting an improvement, yes, but relative to others, that’s what we have to wait and see,” Ricciardo said. 

“Typically, Barcelona is a track where everyone comes with updates. 

“I don’t know yet if everyone is bringing them but in the past, this is the start of the European season, really, where everyone brings their best effort.” 

Saying that his team looks “alright” this weekend, Ricciardo’s campaign at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya kicks off with FP1 at 9:30 PM tonight (AEST). 

Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

2024 Spanish Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday June 21st:

FP1: 21:30 – 22:30

Saturday June 22nd:

FP2: 01:00 – 02:00

FP3: 20:30 – 21:30

Sunday June 23rd:

Qualifying: 00:00 – 01:00

Race: 23:00

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