Christian Horner backs AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo move, claims it’s UNFAIR to replace Nyck de Vries with Liam Lawson

Red Bull’s decision to pick Daniel Ricciardo as Nyck de Vries‘ replacement over junior driver Liam Lawson has stirred discussions. de Vries’ was ousted by Red Bull only ten races into the season for his underwhelming performances. While Lawson’s Super Formula campaign is thriving, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner defends the choice, citing fairness as a crucial factor.

Liam Lawson has been a revelation in Super Formula, with three wins and a championship-contending performance. Many believed he would get the F1 call-up. However, the opportunity went to Daniel Ricciardo, who, after leaving McLaren for his lackluster run, joined Red Bull as a reserve driver. Despite initial doubts, Ricciardo proved his worth during a Pirelli tire test at Silverstone.

“Liam’s doing a great job out in Japan,” said Horner in a podcast episode of F1 Nation, praising Lawson’s efforts. However, the team felt it would be unfair to thrust him into an F1 car right away. “We felt it was perhaps unfair to throw him into a situation where we put him straight into a car like that.” The team opted to assess Ricciardo during testing, and by lap seven, they were already convinced of his capabilities.

McLaren bought Ricciardo out of his contract, leaving him seatless at the end of the season last year. He then joined Red Bull as their third driver. His dedication and behind-the-scenes efforts impressed the team, leading to the ultimate decision to give him a shot in the F1 car and replace Nyck de Vries. And the recent Silverstone test proved to be his ticket back to the F1 grid.

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Christian Horner says they put Daniel Ricciardo through ‘baptism of fire’ at Silverstone

Horner spoke highly of Ricciardo’s preparation, saying, “He was in pretty decent shape, we put him through pretty much 100 laps around Silverstone. It was a baptism of fire. He wasn’t asking for the pads on the headrest. He has kept himself in pretty good shape.” Ricciardo’s athleticism and commitment to training have given the team confidence in his abilities.

F1 circus heads to the Hungaroring this weekend, and it’s known as one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar. Horner acknowledges the difficulty but is optimistic about Ricciardo’s readiness: “It is going to be a tough one for him in Hungary, but I am sure he is in good enough shape.” Ricciardo took the second win of his career on the same track in a chaotic race back in 2014.

With the transfer to Alpha Tauri, Ricciardo’s career comes full circle, returning to the team (then called Toro Rosso) where he drove back in 2012 and 2013. Horner acknowledges it would have been unjust to promote Lawson into an F1 seat, and his impressive performances in Super Formula are not overlooked, and his time will come.

In case you missed it:

• Otmar Szafnauer claims Alpine is still closer to Mercedes and Ferrari
• Nyck De Vries bashes the media for spreading misinformation amidst “harsh” AlphaTauri exit, denies all claims 

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