Daniel Ricciardo expects Red Bull to still be in Formula 1 in 2016 despite the repeated threats from within the team that they could withdraw if they do not receive competitive engines for next season.
The Australian driver’s future is on the line should Dietrich Mateschitz confirm that he is withdrawing his support for both Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, with their engine partnership with Renault coming to an early conclusion at the end of 2015.
Mercedes have apparently rejected the opportunity to supply engines, while Ferrari have reportedly offered the teams the use of a year-old engine so not to be at the same level as its main team, while Honda are not thought to be a serious option.
But Ricciardo believes a solution will be found before the season begins, and expects to find himself racing with Red Bull in 2016.
“I don’t have any fear, I have faith,” said Ricciardo to Autosport. “The team want to race, we want to be competitive. That’s for them to make the call.
“[Red Bull and Toro Rosso] want to be on the grid, both of us, for the numbers and for Formula 1. We’ve only got 20 cars now so you want to see spots filled.
“It’s for the good of the sport that we stay on the grid and that we are competitive. That’s why I have faith that we’ll be on the grid.”
