Since Daniel Ricciardo he returned to racing, recovering from the wrist injury that had forced him to stop five Grand Prix, there was more and more talk of his possible arrival at Red Bull in place of Sergio Perez in 2024.
After being fired from McLaren in 2022, in fact, the Australian signed for the second time with Red Bull, returning to Milton Keynes however as reserve pilot. For months, in fact, Helmut Marko had explained that his role was purely for the purposes of marketing. In fact, Ricciardo did not take part in any tests until Silverstone.
Ricciardo, a sparkling return
Then, suddenly, Nyck de Vries' farewell to AlphaTauri and the return of the number 3. From Austin, first weekend after the injury, Ricciardo he has increasingly adapted to AlphaTauri, making himself the protagonist of a formidable weekend in Mexico (fourth in qualifying, seventh in the race) and keeping pace with Tsunoda in Brazil, before the accident between the Haas and Albon compromised his race.
Perez, between hardships and misfortunes
On the other side, in the Red Bull garage number 11, Sergio Perez struggled in all the weekends preceding the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. In Texas, the Mexican driver finished fourth, 18 seconds behind his teammate and winner Verstappen. In Mexico, with Verstappen still victorious, Perez finished his race at the first corner, with a rookie mistake that ruined a decent weekend up to that point.
The GP of Brazil, however, was the first worthy weekend as second Red Bull driver for Mexican. Qualifying ruined by bad luck due to the yellow flag caused by Piastri's exit, sprint closed on the podium and an encore narrowly missed in the race. With that car, the podium should have been a mere formality, but he started ninth and it should not be forgotten that even Schumacher and Hamilton had problems passing Alonso in a better car than the Asturian's.
Perez confirmed in Red Bull for 2024, Ricciardo aims for 2025
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, has indirectly confirmed that the contract of Perez will be respected and, therefore, the current lineup will also be reiterated in 2024. “This is the Checo we know”, he commented after the race at Interlagos. Ricciardo, for his part, revealed that he is committed to obtaining the seat for 2025, after having been made official as full-time driver for AlphaTauri in 2024.
However, we must ask ourselves a fundamental question. Ricciardo would really do better than Perez in Red Bull? The Mexican is having a season definitely below expectations, but still second in the world championship and in Las Vegas it could mathematically close the case and give Red Bull the first 1-2 world championship in their history.
Perez towards Ricciardo: who would really be more convenient for Red Bull?
Of course, Perez is "lucky" that the other teams are light years behind. In a fight for the world championship 2010 style, with two or three teams competing for the title, a season like his it would greatly reduce Red Bull's world championship hopes.
As for Ricciardo, his talent is known, but so is his McLaren debacle. In AlphaTauri, the Australian is recovering and seems determined to put his papaya past behind him. But it's one thing to fight for the points, it's another to help the team win the title. And, for the moment, Perez has contributed to two constructors' titles. It would, therefore, be a I'm taking a gamble putting Ricciardo behind the wheel of the second Red Bull? We will only find out by living.
Perez and Ricciardo at Fanta F1
Analyzing the last three races also from the point of view of Fantasy F1, Perez vanta i 39 points against i 20 di Ricciardo. There is one fact, however, that cannot be overlooked. If Ricciardo always ended with bonuses, Perez recorded a penalty of -7 in Mexico.
