Red Bull Racing adviser Helmut Marko says the team will evaluate Daniel Ricciardo’s performance in the Pirelli test after the British Grand Prix. The Austrian racing team wants to keep its options open for a successor to Sergio Pérez, who is currently underperforming. Although the team has indicated that it does not want to change anything about its driver duo, it will definitely see where Ricciardo stands.
After a relatively strong start to the year, a combination of unforced fouls and lack of performance has turned the spotlight on Pérez. Amid this difficult period, eight-time race winner Ricciardo makes no secret of his search for an F1 seat. It should be stressed that both Helmut Marko and Christian Horner have rejected suggestions that Perez will be replaced, so no change is likely to happen at Red Bull anytime soon.
Despite this support, Helmut Marko has indicated that Red Bull will evaluate Ricciardo during an upcoming series of test days this summer. “After Silverstone, Ricciardo will be in the car for three days for a Pirelli tire test,” Marko told Austrian media outlet ORF. “And there we can evaluate: Where is Ricciardo really?”, says the 80-year-old. Regarding Sergio Perez’s future, Marko was adamant about Red Bull looking at all of its options. “His original goal was two or three years. That would be more than he planned anyway. You just have to keep options open for the successor.’
Will Pérez’s underperformance lead to a comeback for Ricciardo?
Given that Verstappen as an individual currently has more points than Mercedes or Aston Martin, it is clear that the constructors’ championship leader will not face any threat in 2023. Even if Red Bull are not dominant in the second half of the season , securing first place in the standings seems no more than a formality at the moment. Nevertheless, Perez’s performances have been below par in recent weeks, pushing Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton close to his points tally.
This won’t necessarily jeopardize the 33-year-old’s seat, but Red Bull has never been shy about making drastic changes if deemed necessary. Ricciardo’s testing later this year, while encouraging, does not guarantee he will secure a return to Formula 1, let alone Red Bull. Nevertheless, the eight-time race winner is one of the alternatives Red Bull could consider if Pérez fails to rectify his current difficulties.
