Daniel Ricciardo has made a bold statement regarding the expectations set by Red Bull for Sergio Perez in the upcoming F1 2024 season.
Ricciardo’s comments come amidst whispers that Sergio Perez might be at risk of losing his seat to Ricciardo himself, should his performance fail to improve. Despite inking a fresh two-year contract with Red Bull just last month, Perez finds himself under the microscope due to a string of lackluster performances that have netted him a mere 15 points over the last six races.
The tension is further fueled by speculation surrounding a potential mid-season seat swap between Perez and Ricciardo. PlanetF1.com highlighted rumors that Red Bull may not dismiss the idea if Perez finds himself trailing Max Verstappen by 100 points come the summer break. Currently, Perez is sixth in the Drivers’ standings, and he lags behind Verstappen by a significant 137 points as they head into the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the August hiatus.
Daniel Ricciardo, who had a fruitful stint with Red Bull from 2014 to 2018, clinching seven of his eight career wins with them, has faced hurdles since his return to F1 with VCARB, accumulating just three points over 20 Grand Prix starts. However, his recent performances have shown an uptick with points finishes in two of the last four races in Canada and Austria.
In Budapest, Ricciardo was candid about the pressures faced by all drivers under the spotlight, noting that expectations are sky-high for everyone, including Perez. He remarked, “Even those who are performing exceptionally feel the weight. One good race isn’t enough to stave off scrutiny; performance needs to be consistent.”
Ricciardo’s perspective is colored by his own experiences in F1, having been under similar pressures during his time at McLaren. He emphasized the need for drivers to focus on the engineering and car setup, suggesting that external noise, though hard to ignore, must be kept at bay. He advised, “You hear it, but you have to just roll with it.”
Despite media speculation on his future, Ricciardo remains focused, aware of Red Bull’s results-driven culture. He acknowledged that while navigating the pressures can be taxing, the power to reverse fortunes lies in the drivers’ hands. He stated, “There’s much happening in F1, but at the end of the day it’s in our control with what we do behind the wheel and what the stopwatch says.”
While the pressure is undeniably on Perez to perform, Ricciardo’s insights shed light on the competitive nature within Red Bull. With a results-driven approach, Perez holds the reins to his future, relying on his performance in the races ahead to secure his spot.
