21 September 2023 , 10:02
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Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda are expected to race for AlphaTauri in 2024, understands.
Impressive performances from Liam Lawson while standing in for the injured Aussie have thrust him into contention for his first Formula 1 race seat. However, Red Bull are expected to overlook the New Zealander in favour of his more experienced competitors.
Tsunoda did enough in a strong and consistent start to the 2023 season to earn a fourth contract with the team. And Ricciardo will get the chance to fight for the Red Bull Racing seat he wants to take from Sergio Perez in 2025.
It could cause a problem with Lawson, however, who has already said he "wouldn't be happy" if forced to remain a reserve for next year after getting his first taste of F1 action. AlphaTauri could announce the decision as soon as at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Speaking to Mirror Sport on the eve of the Suzuka race weekend, Karun Chandhok expressed his belief that Lawson will be overlooked. But he also made it clear he is not sure that is the correct course of action for Red Bull, who risk losing the New Zealander if he becomes disgruntled with the situation.
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"I think Daniel will end up with the other seat, which was probably part of the deal of having him there. It's tough to choose between Daniel and Liam, to be honest," he said in an interview facilitated by OLBG. "Daniel only had two races back and we didn't really get to see the best of him. He was just getting back into the swing of things and doing a good job.
"I think they'll end up with Daniel because he's more proven but, honestly, I would have liked to have seen Liam get a chance. I would have like to have seen Liam and Daniel as the driver line-up, which would leave Yuki as the reserve driver across the two teams which is what they did with Liam this year. I think Liam has done enough to warrant a full-time seat."
Regarding Lawson's next steps, the Sky Sports F1 pundit added: "The only seat left is [at] Williams – do Williams have him on a loan like they did with Alex [Albon] initially, when he was still a Red Bull driver? Maybe that's something Williams will consider. I don't know if Red Bull would consider loaning him out.
"I believe, in the next three or four days, they will confirm Daniel and Yuki. But it's a shame for Liam because I think what he's done so far all along, but particularly in Singapore, was tremendously impressive. It's really hard to do it – I jumped in as a reserve in 2011 at the Nurburgring and it was so hard jumping into a car that you're really not familiar with. There's no testing and you’ve got to build a working relationship with other people, understand how to use the tools, the different characteristics of the car.
"For him to come in and, at a track that is so physical and so difficult – probably the most difficult track of the season [Singapore] – go out there and qualify in Q3 and to get points, that can't and shouldn't be underestimated. What a great job he did there."