Sergio Perez is undoubtedly the most successful second Red Bull driver in recent years, having showcased stupendous on-track skills which rewarded him with occasional podiums and victories too. However, his dream stint at the Milton Keynes outfit could well come to an end soon, with Daniel Ricciardo knocking on the doors as a potential replacement.
The Honey Badger was recently involved in one of the biggest twists of the season, as AlphaTauri made a shocking mid-season switch following Nyck de Vries’ lack of performance. Now, fan-favorite Ricciardo finds himself holding onto a lifeline, and by the looks of it, he is yet again aiming for the stars.
Daniel is back! 👊@danielricciardo, on loan from @redbullracing, will be racing for us for the remainder of the #F1 season, starting from the Hungarian GP.
Read more 👇
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) July 11, 2023
When AlphaTauri signed Ricciardo, the theory was that Red Bull would assess the Australian’s racing abilities and subsequently take a call on Sergio Perez’s future. However, neither Christian Horner nor Dr. Helmut Marko acknowledged this theory as the duo continued to back Perez. What’s more, Perez, too, was seemingly unruffled by Ricciardo’s return to F1, reckoning his Red Bull seat was not under threat.
But, the reality? After days of utter silence, Horner finally admitted Ricciardo’s ambition could affect Perez and his partnership with the reigning world champions.
Christian Horner makes massive Daniel Ricciardo admission amid latest AlphaTauri switch
During an episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed that Ricciardo is indeed targeting Perez’s seat for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
“Daniel firmly wants to be pitching for that 2025 Red Bull seat, that’s his goal and objective. By going to AlphaTauri he sees that as his best route of steadying his case for 2025,” the Briton said.
🚨 | Christian Horner confirms that Daniel Ricciardo is targeting the 2025 Red Bull seat
“Daniel firmly wants to be pitching for that 2025 Red Bull seat, that’s his goal and objective. By going to AlphaTauri he sees that as his best route of steadying his case for 2025.” pic.twitter.com/gG4DAHi04y
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) July 17, 2023
Interestingly though, Ricciardo isn’t the only driver that could be challenging for the 2025 Red Bull seat. Yuki Tsunoda, who has been extremely patient by far, will be hoping for the much-yearned promotion to Red Bull after an extended stint at AlphaTauri.
Tsunoda has proven to be one of Red Bull’s greatest finds, and hence, could well join the fight for the glorious opportunity. But, apart from the AlphaTauri pair, Red Bull is also considering young prospects from other teams, including the likes of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
Hence, amid hefty competition, can Ricciardo find a way into the second Red Bull garage by the end of 2024? Or, will the Australian succumb to Tsunoda’s aggression and end his ever-long dream of winning a championship title in Formula 1? Let’s see what the future holds for the Honey Badger.