Cameras at Spa captured a significant conversation between Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull’s top brass, sparking speculation about upcoming decisions in the team.
- Ricciardo and Christian Horner were seen all smiles after their chat with Laurent Mekies.
- Red Bull’s driver line-up decision for 2025 is on the horizon, with a meeting scheduled to finalize choices.
- Sergio Perez’s future with Red Bull is uncertain due to his recent performance.
- Ricciardo’s impressive P10 finish at the Belgian Grand Prix strengthens his bid for a Red Bull seat.
Cameras at the Spa circuit recently caught an intriguing moment as Daniel Ricciardo and Christian Horner, grinning from ear to ear, parted ways after a discussion with Laurent Mekies. This chat happened just before crucial talks about Red Bull’s driver line-up scheduled for Monday, potentially deciding the 2025 roster for both Red Bull and VCARB and even the next race at Zandvoort.
Despite renewing Sergio Perez’s contract two months ago, his underwhelming performance, racking up only 131 points against Max Verstappen’s 277, puts Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship lead in jeopardy. Rumor has it that Red Bull might consider replacing Perez during the summer break. If they decide to do so, Ricciardo and Liam Lawson will be tested to determine who will take over.
Ricciardo, reflecting on his situation, mentioned, “Look I get it, it can be a bit tiring [talking about the future], but I’ve been there.” He continued, “So yeah, at 35 a job interview! We’ll see, we were always planning to do a filming day, I might do a few extra laps. Will it have some weight or not let’s see. I guess my approach is every time I’m going to get strapped in, I try and do the best I can.”
Boosting his chances further, Ricciardo achieved a P10 finish at the Belgian Grand Prix. The ‘Honey Badger’ was later seen in relaxed conversation with Mekies and Horner, who walked off together post-chat, adding fuel to the speculation fire. Video footage of this moment was shared on social media, capturing the attention of many F1 followers.
When asked if he saw the upcoming filming day as a job interview, Ricciardo responded, “I don’t know, honestly. Last year when I drove the Red Bull, the current car after Silverstone, that was, let’s say pretty legit. I was driving the current car and I knew if I could do something special maybe then the call comes. That definitely felt a little bit more real. That’s probably the best way I can answer it. I’m not going to say no this doesn’t, but that one I was very aware that this could be something real here. This one I’m maybe a little bit more not sure about.”
While final decisions are yet to be made, team boss Christian Horner clarified that the Monday meeting wasn’t solely about Sergio Perez. He stated, “We have a meeting on Monday but it’s not just about Checo. There are other topics on the agenda as well, which we always do before the summer break.”
The racing world eagerly awaits the outcome of Red Bull’s forthcoming driver line-up discussions.
