Journalist Lawrence Edmondson has delved into the decision-making dynamics behind Daniel Ricciardo's lack of a full-blown Red Bull seat on the Unlapped Podcast.
As Sergio Perez plays out the string on the last year of his deal to partner Max Verstappen, Edmondson explained some of the behind-the-scenes dynamics within the team.
Notably, the strategic alliance with Visa Cash App RB (known as VCARB or simply RB), a lucrative partnership for the team, emerged as a crucial factor that might have influenced the decision by key figures such as Helmut Marko and Christian Horner to maintain the existing driver lineup for the upcoming season.
Ricciardo the big name at VCARB
“To go to the [Daniel] Ricciardo point, we talked about it a lot last season and a lot of fans I’ve seen in other places have asked in comments to other articles they’ve said well why won’t Red Bull promote Ricciardo in place of [Sergio] Perez, this is exactly why," Edmondson said.
“They wanted their big-name driver to lead this newly-named team and if you’re Visa, you’re coming in and they can lead very heavily on a personality like Ricciardo.
“I think they can have a lot of fun about the fact that everyone hates the name. I think you’ve got a guy in there, and Yuki [Tsunoda] as well, just not caring.
“I think they’ve got two great drivers to deal with that situation if that makes sense, in terms of the media. Once we’re into the season, I think those two guys will be really key.
“It’s hard to dislike those two guys and I think that’s really going to help the team out because people are going to say, the team sucks but I still really like the drivers.
“Keeping Ricciardo in and hoping Ricciardo with a full season under his belt is good again as he was a few years back.”
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