Red Bull admit promotional benefit to Ricciardo: “Who better with his shoey?"

Red Bull admit promotional benefit to Ricciardo: “Who better with his shoey?"

 

 

 

Ricciardo will be absent from the F1 2023 driver line-up after he was ditched by McLaren and opted not to pursue another full-time drive – he will instead be Red Bull’s third driver.Promotional and marketing opportunities in the US will make up a part of Ricciardo’s role. He will not be present at every F1 race, and now Red Bull chief Marko has conceded that the driver’s fame was a key reason that he was recruited.Will Lando Norris be F1 world champion with McLaren?Video of Will Lando Norris be F1 world champion with McLaren?”There are show car runs and performances, especially in America and who better than Ricciardo with his smiley and shoey,” Marko said.”We have, I think, the biggest sponsorship revenue of all the teams. There are an incredible number of obligations.”Ricciardo’s fame soared after Netflix show Drive To Survive but it coincided with a dramatic downturn in performance, resulting in McLaren choosing to replace him with rookie Oscar Piastri.He will next be seen as the back-up to Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez for the team he previously represented. “Sergio has shown that he drives at a very high level and if Max is not there, then Sergio is there,” said Marko. “It’s a certain security, but it’s not like we want to put Sergio under pressure.”There is also a great routine. If a replacement is necessary, there is of course a driver who you know will bring the car to the finish.”Related ‘I’d love to go racing with him again’ – Brown opens door for Ricciardo return? The “great mystery” of Daniel Ricciardo’s decline…Ricciardo has never hid his plan to return to the F1 grid full-time in 2024 but whether that might be at Red Bull, alongside Verstappen and instead of Perez, remains to be seen. 

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