Ricciardo reacts to Marko's 'pokes': 'They fire me up'

"I've become really good at not reading things, so I didn't know about it until I was told when I got here. I don't feel one way or another about it. I still know that the overriding thing in this sport is performance. That's what will give me my best chance of staying here, I know that. On the Marko stuff, it's fine. It doesn't change what I'm going to do," Ricciardo began telling GPblog among others in Austria, reacting to Helmut Marko.

The Austrian advisor named Liam Lawson as a potential replacement for the Australian, who will later have a test in Imola. "I believe it's been planned for a while, but in any case, it’s one of those where the older you get, you understand to control the controllables. If Liam goes and has an amazing test, 100% good for Liam. I've got no control over that, or do I wish him poorly…not at all," the Australian reacted.

Ricciardo believes the most he could do at the same time is perform in the car week in week out. "I'm in the race seat, so I've got to do everything I can to control the things I can, and if I kick ass here, if I kick ass in Silverstone, then I think the narrative can change. I obviously have to own that and be on top of what I can do.  Qualifying fifth in Montreal made Helmut smile."

Could Ricciardo go elsewhere?

If Liam Lawson does get promoted, Ricciardo will have to find a new team in Formula One. The Australian remains confident in keeping his seat. He answered GPblog's question on the matter. " I would say no. I don’t know [about going to a different team]. Not to be stubborn or arrogant about it but I'm not looking anywhere else. I've said it. I really do enjoy being back in the family. I weirdly do sometimes enjoy a little bit of pokes from Helmut because I think it can be a way to get me a little bit fired up and try to get the best out of me."

One of Ricciardo's allies within the organisation is Christian Horner, Red Bull's team principal. He underlined he is yet to hear anything from him at this point. "There hasn’t been any pressure, ultimatum or anything like that but I've been in the sport a long time. I know if I'm getting my ass kicked every weekend, at some point someone will be like 'hey mate step it up'. I’ve had good support from Christian but also everyone. They're doing what they can obviously but then at some point I'm the one in the car and I gotta push that right throttle harder."

"I don't want to be casual about it because obviously I care a lot but maybe I'm at a point where it's just like what will be, will be and I'm just going to put everything I can on the table from effort and performance and if that is good enough to secure me a seat great. If not then okay I did everything I could. I think in terms of the musical chairs stuff, well I need to put all my attention here simple as that," the driver about to compete in his 250th Formula One Grand Prix concluded.