Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has declared there’s “no room” for Daniel Ricciardo if Renault decides to leave Formula 1.
The past few weeks have seen conflicting messages about the future of the French manufacturer with interim CEO Clotilde Delbos triggering a review into the company’s current projects after revealing weak revenue data.
On the contrary, however, the team also announced the arrivals of Pat Fry and Dirk de Beer over the US Grand Prix weekend for next season.
Even so, unconfirmed reports from France have suggested the possibility of Renault quitting is quite strong, something that could leave Ricciardo and 2020 driver Esteban Ocon without a seat.
“Our drivers are fixed, there is no room,” Marko said via GrandPrix247.com.
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That might not be strictly true with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull future uncertain post-2020, but the Austrian perhaps backed up his comment by suggesting Renault’s exit would not mean the end of the Enstone-based squad.
“I would assume that the team would be immediately taken over by someone else,” he added.
Before such a scenario is even possible though, Ricciardo faces a tough challenge next year as he prepares to go up against a highly-regarded talent in Ocon.
“He’s a slim boy, the slimmest driver I’ve ever seen in my life,” the Australian said.
“I’ll be kind of going back to the scenario I had with Max. I’m now the old guy in the team but I’m not coming into it with my guard up [against him].
“I’m coming in knowing if we both do what we’ve got to do, we’ve got a chance to bring this team forward to where we both want it.”