Lewis Hamilton has made a surprise revelation about Daniel Ricciardo’s career decision amid speculation that the Australian could temporarily replace Max Verstappen at Red Bull should the Dutchman receive a race ban.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, currently sits on 11 penalty points on his FIA super licence, just one short of the 12-point threshold that would trigger an automatic one-race suspension. The risk of such a ban following his controversial clash with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix has raised questions about who Red Bull might call upon as a stand-in.
While many speculated that Ricciardo—who has a long history with Red Bull—would be the obvious choice, Hamilton has now revealed why that won’t be the case.
“I had a long chat with Daniel not long ago, and he told me he felt Ferrari offered him something different—something more long-term,” Hamilton shared during the Canadian GP press conference. “He wanted a fresh challenge, not just a temporary seat. Ferrari gave him that vision.”
Ricciardo’s decision appears to be linked to Ferrari’s reported plan to expand their driver development program and consider Ricciardo for a key role alongside or behind Hamilton and Leclerc for the future.
Hamilton added:
“It’s not just about racing one weekend anymore. Daniel’s thinking about legacy, about contributing to a team’s direction. And Ferrari, as I’ve come to see, is all about that passion and long-term purpose.”
With Ricciardo choosing the Maranello path, Red Bull may now have to look internally for Verstappen’s potential replacement. Young talents like Liam Lawson or Arvid Lindblad are reportedly on standby.
Meanwhile, Christian Horner has urged the team to step up amid the growing pressure.
“We need to help Max keep in touch with Oscar [Piastri] and Lando [Norris] in the championship,” Horner told Sky F1. “There’s work to be done to improve the car, and we can’t afford to lose more ground.”
Ricciardo’s choice marks a new chapter in his career and offers a glimpse into Ferrari’s evolving structure, as Hamilton and Ricciardo now find themselves unexpectedly united in red.