Perez's Slump May Boost Ricciardo's F1 Prospects

Daniel Ricciardo aims to influence Marko’s decision as F1 heads into the break, with Perez’s ongoing struggles possibly playing a key role.

Ricciardo believes he will approach the upcoming summer break still hopeful of remaining in Formula 1 beyond 2024.

The 34-year-old Australian admits that, having not beaten Yuki Tsunoda this year as expected, he virtually has no other option but to renew his RB F1 seat for 2025.

Dr. Helmut Marko, a consultant for Red Bull F1, is now making very clear statements that Liam Lawson will be offered a cockpit next season – as stipulated in the young New Zealander’s contract.

This is bad news for Ricciardo, but the experienced Australian driver believes he is back in top form.

“I feel like it’s the third consecutive weekend where I’ve gotten the most out of everything. Always aiming for perfection, but yes, that’s three in a row. We just need to keep going now.”

Regarding Marko’s troubling statements, Ricciardo suggests he might still be able to change his boss’s mind.

“I’ve known Helmut for a long time and in the end, he doesn’t care about personality. He cares about the stopwatch and the result.”

“So if you can give him that, even if he didn’t think much of you until then, he can suddenly change.”

RB F1 CEO Peter Bayer stated that he and his fellow decision-makers at Red Bull would not meet to discuss the futures of Ricciardo and Lawson until the summer break.

The declining form of Sergio Perez might even save Ricciardo.

If a seat at Red Bull Racing becomes available, Tsunoda could be promoted to the lead team, leaving Ricciardo in place at RB F1 alongside Lawson.

“We now need more performance from Sergio,” acknowledges Marko.

“It’s not acceptable for him to finish behind a Haas. We have mechanisms in his contract that allow us to act as needed.”

Former F1 driver Alex Wurz, president of the GPDA, agrees that Perez’s form is a problem for Red Bull’s constructors’ championship.

“From the team’s perspective, he needs to be there to take the points that were conceded by Max and Lando (Norris) in Austria. When the situation is as tight as it is today, you can no longer rely solely on Max.”