Daniel Ricciardo is back in Formula 1. The Australian should deliver better results for Alpha Tauri than his predecessor at the race in Budapest. The exciting question is: what will happen in the future?
When Sergio Perez looks in the rear-view mirror of his Red Bull, he shouldn’t see anyone. The Red Bull is so strong this season that no team can seriously keep up. Team-mate Max Verstappen demonstrates how this works week after week. The Dutchman has nine wins to his credit – seven in a row since the beginning of May.
The last race before this impressive series went to Sergio Perez of all people – at the end of April in Baku. At that time there was open talk about a possible chance that the Mexican Verstappen could contest the world title.
Ricciardo now in the Alpha Tauri
Perez, who has been under pressure for weeks, is now dealing with another component that shouldn’t make his job any easier. Because after the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday (23.07.23) an old acquaintance also appears in his rear-view mirror: Daniel Ricciardo. He takes over the cockpit from Nyck de Vries at the Red Bull sister team Alpha Tauri and could pose a serious threat to Perez.
Less sporty on the track, but more with a view to 2024.
A look back: For the current season, Red Bull has perhaps built one of the most dominant cars in Formula 1 history. All ten race wins go to her, plus nine pole positions. For a few weeks, however, the constant change at the beginning of the season has shifted completely in the direction of Verstappen.
Perez weak in qualifying last time
Above all, Perez’s problem is the qualifying results: on the last five race weekends, the Mexican didn’t even make it into the top 10, twice it was even over in Q1. Such a negative series for a Red Bull driver was last seen in 2008 by David Coulthard when the car at
Wasn’t nearly as dominant. The Mexican is still in second place in the World Cup standings. But the lead over former world champions Alonso and Hamilton in clearly inferior cars is melting.
The last few race weekends have not been very successful for Perez.
In the team classification, Red Bull is the undisputed leader. The points from Max Verstappen (255) alone would be enough for first place in front of Mercedes (203) and Aston Martin (181). This is probably one of the reasons why the top of the racing team sees no need for action. This first place and the bonus that comes with it at the end of the season is almost guaranteed. But the gap of almost 100 points from Perez to Verstappen shows how big the difference between the two drivers is.
AlphaTauri only stopover for Ricciardo?
With Daniel Ricciardo, the Austrians not only have the most prominent, but probably also the best reserve driver in Formula 1 in their own ranks. At the official tire test after the race at Silverstone, Ricciardo was allowed to do laps in the Red Bull car for the first time. The public doesn’t know much about this, but it may have led to the decision of the bosses to immediately hoist him into the cockpit at Alpha Tauri.
Certainly a great success for Ricciardo, even if the 34-year-old’s goal is likely to remain the Red Bull cockpit. Due to the close connection between the two teams, a look in the direction of the “training team” makes sense when it comes to places in the Red Bull car. It is currently not possible to say whether Yuki Tsunoda would be ready if Perez separated at the end of the season. Ricciardo undoubtedly brings the experience with him. If he makes a good impression in the coming months, he could put Perez under pressure – and recommend himself for Red Bull.
It is noteworthy that Ricciardo is the only driver in Red Bull’s history to have beaten Verstappen in a direct duel. In 2017 he scored more points than the Dutchman, who was only 19 at the time – and kept the upper hand in the two following years. Just like every season since then – regardless of whether Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon or, as is currently the case, Sergio Perez is driving next to him.
Max Verstappen has already won 8 races this season.
Red Bull known for driver swaps
The fact is that Perez’s contract with Red Bull is also valid for 2024. The nuances of those responsible, above all Head of Motorsport Dr. Helmut Marko, but suggest that his role in the team is viewed critically and is also discussed.
In his era, together with team boss Christian Horner, there were frequent driver changes, even during a running season. In 2006, Austrian Christian Klien was sacked and replaced with three races to go before the end of the season. In 2007, Sebastian Vettel got Scott Speed’s cockpit at the AlphaTauri predecessor Toro Rosso in the middle of the season. Jaime Alguersuari fared similarly in 2009, taking over from Frenchman Bourdais. In 2016, Max Verstappen switched to Red Bull, who swapped the cockpit with the unconvincing Daniil Kvyat. Most recently, in 2019, Alexander Albon was promoted to Red Bull, which relegated Pierre Gasly to Toro Rosso.
In 2023 it is Daniel Ricciardo who is now in the Alpha Tauri and can prove in the next six months whether he is a serious option for Red Bull. Sergio Perez has been warned.