Red Bull boss lifts lid on 2025 path for Ricciardo

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Horner explained Ricciardo will want to work his way towards a deal for next year before putting his case forward to replace Perez.

Perez signed a two-year deal to take him through to the end of 2024 while Verstappen is contracted through to the end of 2027.

“At the moment, there’s only something in place until the end of the season,” said Horner of Ricciardo’s place at AlphaTauri.

“There’s no thoughts or expectations beyond that. We’ve loaned him to AlphaTauri until the end of the year. 

“Obviously our drivers are going to be Max (Verstappen) and Checo (Perez) again next year, but it’s always good to have talent in reserve. 

“(Ricciardo) firmly wants to be pitching for that 2025 Red Bull seat, that’s his goal and objective, and by going to AlphaTauri he sees that as his best route of stating his case for 2025.”

Despite rampant speculation, Horner’s comments suggest Red Bull will not look to replace Perez as soon as next year with Ricciardo.

However, the deposing of Nyck De Vries from AlphaTauri also suggests Red Bull aren’t afraid to swing the axe at a moment’s notice.

Perez has suffered a slump of late, failing to match or get near Verstappen in qualifying.

In the last five races, the Mexican driver has only claimed one podium finish. Prior to that, he’d finished on the podium in all but one race.

While the 33-year-old still sits second in the world championship, Horner said the team is determined to get him back to where he was at the start of the year.

“Checo has had a horror run of Saturdays – five Saturdays in a row he’s not made it into Q3 and I think some of that is bad luck and some of it is self-inflicted,” said Horner.

“We’re just trying to help him through that period. He’s still second in the world championship, he’s won two grands prix so far out of the 10 this year and he started the season in such great form. We want to help him rediscover that form.”

Pedro De La Rosa, who raced in Formula 1 on and off between 1999 and 2012, said he doesn’t see Perez being replaced by Ricciardo as soon as 2024.

“I don’t think there is a strategy behind to say, ‘we’re bringing Daniel just to warm up for the future’,” the Spaniard explained.

“I don’t know, I mean, I don’t think they know at this stage. It just very much depends on Daniel Ricciardo. 

“This is Formula 1, it’s a mental game. Whatever you do on a race car and whatever it is you can achieve on a Sunday, it will have an effect on your future, on where you go. I don’t think it’s the purpose of this change to put pressure on Sergio or bring him in.

“But I think for Daniel, you have to take every chance as if it’s your last race and make sure you bring back the keys but not necessarily the car and prove that you are back and still have the speed. 

“Because let’s not forget that Daniel was very, very, very quick. He’s had two very bad seasons at McLaren. I would say that has really impacted his future. He was absolutely stunning in any of the other teams he’s been to.”

Ricciardo’s first session at the Hungarian Grand Prix will be practice one at 9.30pm (AEST) on Friday.

The Hungarian Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday at 11pm.

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