It has been revealed that Daniel Ricciardo will not drive Oracle Red Bull Racing’s 2011 title-winning Formula 1 car in support of the Bathurst 12 Hour race next month, leaving the opportunity open for Liam Lawson.
Following the announcement that Red Bull would be present at the event for a demonstration run, many fans speculated that Ricciardo would be the one behind the wheel of the RB7.
However, Speedcafe.com has indicated that the Australian driver will not be driving following an interview with team boss Christian Horner.
Ricciardo returned to Red Bull Racing at the end of last year as the team’s third driver for 2023, while Lawson remains as its Reserve Driver.
Although it would have been a fitting appearance for the eight-time Grand Prix winner to drive an F1 car around his home country’s most famous race track, he is unavailable over the weekend of February 3 to 5.
That leaves New Zealander Lawson as the likely candidate for the demonstration run.
If the Kiwi does get the opportunity to drive the car around Mount Panorama, he will be piloting an iconic piece of machinery in which Sebastian Vettel earnt his second F1 world championship in.
In 2011, the RB7 won 12 of 19 races and claimed 18 of 19 pole positions thanks to both Vettel and teammate Mark Webber. The pair also wracked up three 1-2 finishes that year.
An official announcement regarding who will be driving the car is expected in the near future.
The 2023 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will run from February 3 to 5, 2023.
Main image: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
