EXCLUSIVE: It's Red Bull or bust for Daniel Ricciardo following RB's Azerbaijan 'stinker'
Daniel Ricciardo will be either driving for Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, or he'll be commentating from the sidelines.
That's the reality for the 34-year-old Australian still without a drive for the 2025 season, according to Sky Sports F1 lead commentator David Croft.
Ricciardo's seat at RB and the second seat at Sauber are the only two officially still open for 2025, although Sergio Perez remains under pressure to keep his seat despite signing for another two seasons earlier this season.
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"It's the ultimate hero or zero for him – he either replaces Sergio Perez or he doesn't drive in Formula 1. You can't get a more hero or zero than that," Croft told Wide World of Sports.
Daniel Ricciardo will either be driving for Red Bull next season, or watching from the sidelines. Formula 1 via Getty Images
Croft, like many Aussie fans, believe Ricciardo's decision to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2018 season was the wrong one, and was ultimately the beginning of the end.
Ricciardo himself was under pressure to keep his seat earlier this season, but has been consistently the lead RB driver since the Canadian Grand Prix in June.
But his timing in getting the better of teammate Yuki Tsunoda couldn't have come at a worse time. Upgrades RB has bolted onto their 2024 challenger have not at all yielded results, in fact have done the opposite.
Ricciardo finished a distant 13th and never looked like scoring points in Baku. Tsunoda suffered a second consecutive DNF after his sidepod had a hole punched in it during a lap one collision with Lance Stroll.
Ricciardo and RB were nowhere during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing 13th. Getty
"I don't think it helped that RB had such a stinker at the weekend – it wasn't a great race for them," Croft said.
"I feel really sorry for Daniel. He is a tremendous talent who has excited and delighted us all for many years in Formula 1.
"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.
"Sergio is the weak link. In terms of form at the moment, is Danny Ric driving well enough to replace Sergio Perez? It's so hard to say.
"He's not beating Yuki Tsunoda consistently, and Red Bull obviously don't think Yuki Tsunoda is good enough for the second seat of the main team.
"Logically, how do you then promote Danny Ric to that seat? Unless you're doing it for reasons other than your form on the track?"
When the season started in Bahrain, RB could lay claim to having the sixth-fastest car on the grid. In Baku, they were quicker only than the two Saubers.
Watch every practice, qualifying and the FORMULA 1 Singapore Grand Prix LIVE in 4K on Kayo Sports.
Tsunoda sits 12th in the standings with 22 points. Ricciardo has 12 points and sits 14th - bumped down a spot after Baku after Alex Albon's stunning seventh for Williams.
Tsunoda scored 18 of those points through the first eight grands prix to Monaco, and has scored only four points in the nine races since.
Ricciardo didn't score his first grand prix points until the Canadian Grand Prix - the race after Monaco - the first of only three Sunday points finishes all season.
To Monaco, Tsunoda led the head-to-head against Ricciardo in races they both finished 5-1. Since then, it's swung 5-2 in the Aussie's favour. The overall season sits at 7-6 in favour of Tsunoda.
Ricciardo congratulating compatriot Oscar Piastri after the latter won in Baku. Getty
In August, Dutch pundit Tom Coronel wrote Ricciardo had "no business" in F1, and should quit the sport to become a pundit.
Croft said he'd welcome Ricciardo into his team in a heartbeat.
"We would take Danny Ric in the commentary box or the Sky pad at any stage," he said with a laugh.
"He is a brilliant guy to hang around with, and he obviously knows a lot about F1."
The F1 season continues at the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. Race coverage on Fox Sports and Kayo to begin at 8.30pm (AEST) Sunday, ahead of lights out at 10pm.
