Red Bull Retains Perez and Ricciardo for Post-Summer Break, Shocks Verstappen’s Team
In a surprising turn of events, Red Bull Racing has decided to maintain its current driver lineup post-summer break, bringing relief to both Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez. This decision comes as a shock to Max Verstappen and his management team, who anticipated changes due to Perez’s underperformance.
“Perez is staying,” declared Dr. Helmut Marko, an F1 consultant for Red Bull, following discussions with team leader Christian Horner in Milton-Keynes. “We want to get him back to his old form. Ricciardo is staying too. Nothing will change,” added Marko.
Initially, Red Bull’s plan was to replace Perez with Ricciardo for the latter part of 2024, a strategy reconsidered after discussions with Liberty Media, the owners of F1, to avoid impacting the Mexican GP turnout. Additionally, Perez’s significant financial supporter, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, might have influenced this decision.
However, Marko hinted at potential changes for 2025, stating, “The cards will be reshuffled for 2025.” It is widely believed that Liam Lawson is almost guaranteed a spot in the RB lineup for 2025, despite differing views between Ricciardo and Marko on whether the Faenza-based team still qualifies as a ‘junior team’.
Ricciardo, aged 35, expressed his stance, saying, “I’m honest with myself that if it still felt like a junior team, I wouldn’t feel comfortable here. I’m 35 now. I think I would feel a bit out of place. And I certainly don’t.”
Ricciardo will compete against 22-year-old Lawson during a RB ‘filming day’ test at Imola on Wednesday. “There’s a lot at stake for me, but I’m in good spirits,” Ricciardo told f1-insider.com.
This decision by Red Bull sets the stage for an intriguing remainder of the season, with all eyes on Perez and Ricciardo as they strive to prove their worth and secure their positions for the future.
