Daniel Ricciardo could learn the fate of his future this weekend with an announcement of Liam Lawson's move to VCARB expected. This would make it Red Bull or bust for the eight-time Grand Prix winner, although the F1 exit door is looking likely for the popular Australian.
Ricciardo's predicament has been a well-publicised one this season with Helmut Marko repeatedly talking up Lawson's chances of securing a seat with one of Red Bull's two F1 organisations. In Baku, he confirmed that an announcement will come at the Singapore Grand Prix.
This announcement is expected to confirm his move to VCARB and with Yuki Tsunoda already contracted with the Faenza-based team for another season, this would leave Ricciardo out of a seat. With options outside of the Red Bull setup rapidly diminishing, the writing appears to be on the wall.
Sky Sports F1 reported Ted Kravitz confirmed these beliefs in Baku. "Helmut Marko says it will be after Singapore - we have been waiting to hear who will be Yuki Tsunoda's partner at RB next year," he said.
"Marko is teasing that it's now after Singapore that we will hear whether it's going to be Ricciardo or Lawson. We think it's going to be Liam Lawson."
Lead F1 commentator David Croft believes that the 35-year-old's recent performances have been the final straw for the VCARB bosses. Ricciardo finished 13th in Baku last weekend and has now scored points in just one of the last seven races.
"It's the ultimate hero or zero for him - he either replaces Sergio Perez or he doesn't drive in Formula One," Croft told Wide World of Sports. "You can't get a more hero or zero than that.
"I don't think it helped that RB had such a stinker at the weekend. It wasn't a great race for them. I feel really sorry for Daniel. He is a tremendous talent who has excited and delighted us all for many years in Formula One.
"But he made the wrong choice. He should never have left Red Bull in the first place. Red Bull are keen to promote Liam Lawson. They don't want to leave him on the sidelines any longer than they have to and Tsunoda is doing well enough to get another drive."
Ricciardo's chances of staying on the F1 grid are now pinned on replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull. However, despite failing to take the chequered flag, the Mexican produced one of his best performances of the season in Baku, and if he maintains that form then Christian Horner will have an easy decision to make.
