Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez will both head into the Formula 1 summer break with some relief, as Red Bull has decided to maintain its current driver lineup post-break. According to Ralf Bach from Auto Bild, the decision not to remove Perez due to underperformance came as a surprise to Max Verstappen and his management team. Dr. Helmut Marko, an F1 consultant for Red Bull, confirmed after discussions with team leader Christian Horner that both Perez and Ricciardo would stay with their respective teams, with no changes planned.
Marko emphasized Red Bull’s intention to help Perez regain his previous form. This decision, though, could shift by 2025. Initial plans possibly involved sidelining Perez and promoting Ricciardo from the secondary team for the latter part of 2024. However, these plans were reconsidered after discussions with Liberty Media, the owners of F1, who were concerned about the potential impact on the Mexican Grand Prix’s attendance. Additionally, Perez’s significant financial backer, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, may have influenced this decision, as suggested by Sport Bild.
Marko hinted that the driver lineup could change in 2025. Liam Lawson is almost assured a spot in the RB lineup for 2025. Ricciardo, who is 35, expressed that he wouldn’t feel comfortable in a team still considered a ‘junior team.’ He stated that at his age, he would feel out of place in such an environment. Ricciardo, who will compete against the 22-year-old Lawson in an RB ‘filming day’ test at Imola, is aware of the stakes but remains optimistic.
