RB F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo isn’t concerning himself with the rumours around the paddock that he might be replacing Sergio Pérez at Red Bull Racing.
In the press conference on Thursday, the Aussie F1 driver denied knowing any rumours of any driver changes at Red Bull.
“No changes from the approach” as he says, as he vehemently denies knowing links that there will be movement in the Red Bull circle, and the 35-year-old says he will focus in getting the most out of his current performance with the Red Bull sister team.
“Yeah, honestly, I don’t know, but like always, just focus on myself and what I can do.
“Yeah, every race or few races, the narrative changes, and that’s the sport we’re in. Things are happening quickly, and just got to try and, I think in these situations, focus on yourself and get the most out of that, and then see where the wind takes me. So, no changes from the approach.”
Pressed if he keeps in touch with Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner and director Helmut Marko, the 8-time race winner said that he speaks to them a lot.
Ricciardo noted that he is happy under intense scrutiny of Marko, and he likes that he gets pointed out to him how his performance on track looks, whether it’s positive or negative.
After a tricky start to the season in qualifying, Ricciardo has got stronger recently, outqualifying teammate Yuki Tsunoda in three of the last five Grand Prix sessions.
“Yeah, I mean… I still speak with Christian and Helmut on that side. Still quite a lot.
“A lot still goes through them, honestly. So that’s that. Other parts of the team, not really because obviously I’m here and I focus on this stuff here with my team and my engineers and everything.
“So yeah, Obviously last year I was inside the drivers’ meetings like the post-session debriefs and asking all the engineers some questions and whatever. But clearly that’s not the case now. But yeah, the Christian and Helmut side still.
“It’s good to see them after a good result. Helmut still lets you know when the result’s not good. But yeah, I definitely feel happy being back in that and under that kind of microscope, if you will, and in that environment with a little bit of that pressure.
“It’s fun, but… Yeah, that’s probably the best way I can answer it.”
Asked if he is now encouraged that the door back to the top team might be open, the Perth-based driver responded that promotion is the ultimate goal, as he explained following his return last year.
Nonetheless, he says that he is currently focused on the present and that he will continue to take things one race at a time.
“Yeah, I mean I know that it’s I don’t want to say you’re as good as your last race, but there is when it comes to these moments these races are more critical than any other.
“So coming into Budapest and there wasn’t anything I heard from them but even just myself, just telling myself these could be two very, very important races in my career and just leave it all out there and do everything I can. Obviously going up, as I said last year, that’s like my goal.
“I’d love to return but there’s also talks that, will I even be here? So there is so much to fight for.
“And yeah, I think for that, I just really made a point to every race you prepare. And of course, you do what you can. But I just made a point for these two coming up that, yeah, leave it all out there. And that’s that. So yeah. We’ll see.”
