Ricciardo's F1 Return Looms: Is He Set to Replace Perez at Red Bull?
Oct.16 - Red Bull has denied wild reports suggesting Sergio Perez is poised to announce his immediate retirement from Formula 1.
With the off-form 33-year-old's place at the team in serious doubt despite his 2024 contract, it has been rumoured he might either quit Red Bull on the occasion of his forthcoming home race or even quit the sport altogether.
"There's absolutely nothing to it," a Red Bull spokesman told Auto Motor und Sport.
And team consultant Dr Helmut Marko added: "I don't know anything about that."
Indeed, Marko even corrected the claim that Perez has struggled consistently since the Spanish GP in June.
"He made it to the podium four times after that and showed a few great comebacks like at the Red Bull Ring and in Monza," the 80-year-old added.
Curiously, however, the latest Perez rumours coincide with news that Daniel Ricciardo is now fit and ready to return to his AlphaTauri cockpit this weekend in Austin.
He demonstrated his ability to drive again in the wake of his broken hand with a demonstration run in an old Red Bull car in Nashville over the weekend.
"I've been in the simulator, everything went fine, the hand works well, and I'm ready to get behind the wheel," the Australian, a clear contender to replace Perez next year, said.
If Perez is ousted and Ricciardo replaces him, that would open up the full-time AlphaTauri seat next year for impressive reserve Liam Lawson.
"He (Perez) has a contract, but what are contracts worth in Formula 1?" Frans Verschuur, a well-known Dutch racing team figure, told Ziggo Sport.
"Nyck de Vries also thought he had a contract, and then he was gone."
Verschuur added: "I think it all depends on what he does now in these last races. Will he make a mess of things again as he has recently?"
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All i can say is DR better outperform and race well for rest of the yr
Maybe at some point during next season, depending on how his & Checo's relative performance levels.
RIC is seriously overrated.
He is not a WDC contender, never has been.
Media are judging him on personality rather than objectiveley on his driving.
I've figured it out. Our friend Blo is the pipeline source for all journo material during lulls in the action. He and Spy share a rumour/conspiracy website. One thing for sure. Shrop' has it right. RIC had best display whatever talent he has immediately or RB will throw LAW into the deep end at the A team. That will be a mistake.
Early call: barring a DNF, VER will destroy the competition at Austin.
The adage - "The car makes the driver" applies in pretty much every case. For example, even Michael Schumacher couldn't shine in the Mercedes when they got into the ring.
Daniel has been doing not-too-badly over at Alpha Tauri. Get him behind the wheel at Red Bull, and he would definitely do better than he is right now. Does that make him WDC material? I'd have to agree with Stroppy and say "No".
But, what about Fernando - what would happen with him behind the wheel of a Bull? Now, that would be something special.
Ricciardo is a spent force. His hand may never be the same. An RB seat would be a waste of a chance for Lawson to show his natural abilities
Perez needs to stop ✋️ overthinking and ignore all the media shite