Ricciardo's Red Bull Return: Perez's Future in Doubt Now?
Jul.6 - In the ever-changing and hectic driver 'silly season', Daniel Ricciardo is suddenly back in the running for one of the most competitive seats in the sport.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner chided the "brutally hard question" asked of him at Silverstone about whether the team already regrets recently extending the underperforming Sergio Perez's contract.
"It made absolute sense to sign Checo at that point in time," he answered, "but this is a business in which there are pressures to deliver."
Horner even said that as the field closes up on Red Bull, with McLaren perhaps already having the fastest car in 2024, the team he leads "desperately" needs a competitive driver in the seat alongside Max Verstappen.
"We thought the contract would help," he told Sky. "He's been in the sim this week to understand why it just isn't working.
"But the point is that when we sign a driver, you (reporters) do not know the content of the contract. This is a sport in which you cannot hide. He needs to support Max."
So while Mexican Perez's contract almost certainly has performance clauses, Ricciardo's almost certainly has a clause in which he can leap from the junior team RB to Red Bull Racing.
"They are all Red Bull Racingg drivers," Horner clarifies.
Another issue for Red Bull is that Liam Lawson's contract will lapse if he is not given a race seat for 2025. By promoting Ricciardo to RB, the energy drink-owned concern would therefore solve multiple problems.
When asked about Perez at Silverstone, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko said: "He has his fluctuations. This time he looks better again."
Auto Motor und Sport even quoted Marko as responding to whether Ricciardo's recently-improved form could mean the Australian is promoted. "We'll know more by the summer break," is all he would say.
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perez is a disaster,riciardo isnt any better.give lawson the seat ffs
"Dr Helmut Marko said: "He has his fluctuations. This time he looks better again.""
I think that comment was before Checko's failure in Qualifying for the British Grand Prix! How many failures is Checko allowed to make? His performance has been abysmal in the last five races, and this will make six consecutive inferior performances.
As for Ricciardo, he is following a smiliar path to Checko! Yuki gets more out of the car than Daniel and deserves a shot at the senior RB team. Time for DR to consider his future!
Give Perezez seat to Danny Riciordo he knows the red bull team well, and he will be very competitive with Max. everyone knows Danny can deliver good results for the team. so i say again the driver for the seat is Danny Riciordo.
you could be right, OR wrong, cant see a switch hurting each drivers career given the stages they are both at
Both need to retire. DR has had his moment in the sun. He had ample opportunity to showcase his talent, wasn’t there. Nice guy, great smike but the party is over. Checko is only there because of Slim’s money. No matter where he would go, the results will or would be the same. Time to say adios. He is not fulfilling his obligation as a team member. Team means all parties need to participate not just drive around and make excuses.
All true Susan , but remember DC, he spent 9 seasons being paid to be a No 2 under Rons watch
Lawson or Tsunoda for the Red Bull seat