Daniel Ricciardo may find himself driving for Red Bull at Zandvoort, as he remains uncertain about the outcome of his private outing with the team. Sergio Perez’s struggles in Formula 1 have led to speculation that he may be replaced, despite signing a new contract earlier this season. Ricciardo is considered the most likely candidate for the position due to his previous experience with the team. Although his season got off to a slow start, Ricciardo’s recent performances have shown improvement. He will be participating in a filming day with Red Bull this week, along with his teammates Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, and Ayumu Iwasa. However, Ricciardo is unsure if this outing will lead to his desired return to Red Bull. He remains focused on doing his best and will wait to see what happens.
Ricciardo had a similar opportunity with Red Bull’s sister team last year, where he impressed with his lap times. However, he doesn’t believe this chance carries the same weight as that Pirelli test with the main Red Bull team. When asked if he sees it as an audition for a Red Bull seat, Ricciardo admitted he wasn’t sure. He recalled that driving the current Red Bull car last year felt more significant and that he knew a special performance could lead to a call from the team. While he doesn’t dismiss the possibility entirely, he doesn’t view this outing in the same way.
In addition, Ricciardo empathizes with Perez’s frustration over questions about his position, as he experienced similar scrutiny during his time at McLaren. He understands that it can be tiresome and not always enjoyable.
