Purple Bull and RB’s choice to drop Daniel Ricciardo mid-season had nothing to do with him performing so badly that a right away change was wanted.
RB workforce boss Laurent Mekies made it crystal clear final weekend that if the Australian had the automobile beneath him he wanted, like within the Miami dash this yr, his pure pace was nonetheless there to profit from it.
As a substitute, the manoeuvring that has triggered Ricciardo’s F1 exit and introduced Liam Lawson again to a race cockpit may be very a lot about Purple Bull needing to get on the entrance foot with its 2026 driver plans.
If we rewind a bit, we should do not forget that Ricciardo’s comeback for RB final yr was in the end an audition for Purple Bull.
With Sergio Perez having some wobbles all through the second half of 2023, Purple Bull knew that if Ricciardo confirmed the identical pace he did throughout that post-British GP take a look at within the RB19 final yr then he could be a consolation blanket to fit in if its Mexican incumbent didn’t raise his recreation.
However issues didn’t get off to the perfect of begins when Ricciardo broke his wrist at Zandvoort, opening up the door for Lawson to impress throughout a five-race stint for the squad.
Then, regardless of Perez struggling massively in the beginning of 2024, Ricciardo’s inconsistent kind meant he got here wanting convincing Purple Bull that he could be an computerized step up if given a return to Milton Keynes.
There was that very transient spell across the Hungarian and Belgian GPs the place Ricciardo seemed to be within the body as Purple Bull misplaced hope in Perez, however as soon as the squad dedicated to sticking with what it knew, then that in the end set in stone the occasions which have performed out this week.
Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB20, Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Group VCARB 01
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
Looming proper behind the minds of Purple Bull’s senior administration is what to do about its drivers for 2026, regardless that in principle each Max Verstappen and Perez have contracts.
Neither will be 100% sure they are going to be there. Verstappen may stroll to a different workforce or out of F1 fully, whereas Perez must carry out higher to safe his place. These potentialities imply Purple Bull can not danger having another top-line choices on the desk if it must pursue a Plan B.
The workforce must be certain it has its bases coated on two fronts.
First, there may be retaining an in depth watch over prime expertise from different groups – which is why Purple Bull workforce boss Christian Horner has been stirring the pot by saying that George Russell might be a goal for him sooner or later.
However what Purple Bull particularly must do is know who’s greatest accessible from its present younger driver pool, and the one approach to make sure on that entrance is to get the comparisons rolling right away.
With Ricciardo not a long-term choice, Purple Bull may probably not wait till the beginning of 2025 to fit Lawson in once more and get a definitive verdict on how he stacks up in opposition to Yuki Tsunoda.
Perez’s ongoing inconsistent kind means the jury is out on his seat for subsequent yr, not to mention 2026, and if issues do not enhance by the tip of the marketing campaign, Purple Bull must be certain about who could be the perfect various if wanted.
Liam Lawson, Visa Money App RB F1 Group
Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Pictures
It’s fairly clear Purple Bull doesn’t suppose Yuki Tsunoda is the precise match to affix Verstappen, however throwing Lawson in with no respectable run of races to indicate his potential could be taking an enormous danger.
Plus, if Perez goes and Lawson is lower than it, then Purple Bull may discover itself on the hunt for 2 drivers.
So whereas it might have been good to permit Ricciardo the possibility for a farewell tour to see out the season, time shouldn’t be on Purple Bull’s aspect.
That’s the reason it must be certain about Lawson as rapidly as doable to know the place he suits in: is he fast-tracked to the highest workforce, or does he want extra time to develop himself?
Then there may be additionally the controversy about what to do with its different junior drivers. Isack Hadjar has performed job in F2 and is banging on the door of F1, whereas Ayumu Iwasa has been placing within the podiums in Tremendous Components.
As Purple Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko defined in a video with Motorsport.com’s sister web site Motorsport-Whole.com, there’s a larger image at play right here.
“Ricciardo was introduced again with the possibility for him to return to Purple Bull Racing if he had proven the suitable efficiency at Racing Bulls,” he mentioned.
“However you need to see it in a bigger context. Now we have variety of younger drivers. There’s Hadjar, there’s Lawson. There’s additionally Iwasa, with out rating them wherever. And we now have to look to the long run.
“And we additionally wish to have comparisons: The place does Lawson stand compared to Yuki? Then, for the long run, what does the motive force pairing seem like for our two groups?”
This then is the sport at play. Purple Bull’s driver shuffle for the USA Grand Prix shouldn’t be about lifting outcomes now. It’s all about what occurs 18 months from now.
