Despite such a successful season, the Red Bull Formula 1 racing team is not ideal. On the contrary: The house blessing was recently hung awry between the regular drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, and the new designated reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo is providing additional pressure. According to ex-world champion Damon Hill, the situation has potential for tension.
Daniel Ricciardo will probably stay in Formula 1 and return to Red Bull. Although the constructors’ world champion has not yet officially announced the change, the powerful motorsport consultant Helmut Marko had already reported the renewed cooperation on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as a done deal.
In Ricciardo, Red Bull is getting one of the most experienced drivers, who can also look back on five years with the Bulls. The personnel should also bring additional explosiveness with it, because Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez recently got in each other’s way. “It could be very interesting considering the problems at Red Bull between Max and Sergio,” said Damon Hill, 1996 Formula 1 world champion, on “Sky”.
“If things go wrong and there is an upset, Daniel Ricciardo could be in pole position. It’s his homeland, he owes a lot to Red Bull, so he’ll be keen to get back there,” he said the 62 year old.
At Red Bull “it has to be very, very aggressive”
Verstappen had twice refused his teammate Sergio Pérez in the final spurt of the season to help within the team. The Mexican ultimately missed out on winning the Vice World Champion title, which went to Ferrari ace Charles Leclerc.
The trigger for the dispute is the race weekend in Monaco, when “Checo” is said to have intentionally caused an interruption in qualifying, which meant that the Dutchman only started from fourth place. Pérez then won the race, Verstappen was third.
Hill is certain that Pérez’s contract with Red Bull is “watertight” and that the bosses want him to stay with the team in the long term. However, an ongoing dispute with Verstappen could lead to an abrupt end to the collaboration.
Hill even believes that Verstappen could be the driving force behind a separation from Pérez: “I think Ricciardo has a good chance. It has to be very, very aggressive behind the scenes and I think Max wants a new combination.”
Officially, such mind games were recently refuted immediately. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, for example, said on “Sky” that Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez had gotten rid of their problems. He also referred to Sergio Pérez’s contract, which is valid until 2024.