Will it be Perez or Ricciardo alongside Verstappen at Zandvoort? The team boss of Red Bull, Christian Horner, has revealed that they have all the necessary information about both Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo as they consider their Formula 1 driver lineup. Perez’s disappointing performance, where he finished eighth after starting second on the grid, has sparked speculation about his future with the team. Horner and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko are set to have a meeting during the summer break to discuss whether Perez will continue with the team.
The rumors of Perez being dropped have gained momentum since it was leaked that Ricciardo will be participating in a filming day with Red Bull’s 2024 car. However, Horner has denied that there is any significant meaning behind Ricciardo’s involvement, stating that it’s simply a filming day to create content. He emphasized that the event is not a tire test but rather a filming day. Ricciardo’s performance has improved after a slow start to the season, and he scored a point in Belgium due to George Russell’s exclusion. Horner acknowledged Ricciardo’s progress and praised his performance in the race. Red Bull has access to all the necessary data to evaluate the performance of both Perez and Ricciardo, but Horner reiterated that their priority is to support Perez and help him improve.
They want to see him succeed and avoid making any driver switches if possible. Additionally, Horner expressed optimism about Red Bull’s Driver Development Programme, which includes talented drivers such as Isack Hadjar, the current leader in the Formula 2 championship, Liam Lawson, and Arvid Lindblad, who show great potential in their respective categories.
