Red Bull’s second seat is already a huge topic of conversation and right now AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo looks like the most natural successor to Sergio Perez should he depart.
Nevertheless, the situation is unlikely to be as simple as it appears. The initial races of the upcoming season will play a crucial role in determining who will have the opportunity to become Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025.
During a discussion on The Race Podcast, journalist Ben Anderson expressed his insights on Christian Horner’s perspective regarding the team’s lineup for the following season.
Sergio Perez is undoubtedly aware of the immense pressure he currently faces at Red Bull.
Due to the significant disparity between him and Max Verstappen, it is often overlooked that Perez secured the runner-up position in the Drivers’ Championship last year.
The Mexican driver only managed to secure victory in two races while driving the most dominant car in Formula 1, and his performance in qualifying became a significant concern.
As his contract is set to expire at the end of the year, Red Bull will be evaluating their possible alternatives.
There have been suggestions that Daniel Ricciardo would be the most suitable candidate to replace Perez at Red Bull.
Nevertheless, the situation is not as straightforward as it seems, as there are numerous drivers who are not part of the Red Bull team but would eagerly seize the opportunity to occupy that seat.
In addition to that, Ricciardo must demonstrate his superiority over teammate Yuki Tsunoda, as he was unable to surpass the Japanese driver upon his comeback in 2023.
Ricciardo seen as most natural replacement for Perez at Red Bull
In regards to the situation at Red Bull, Anderson expressed his thoughts by stating that Perez is currently leading the pack in the short-term. However, he believes that if Perez improves his performance significantly, Red Bull may offer him a shorter contract instead of another two-year deal.
Anderson also mentioned that replacing drivers can be quite troublesome for the team. He believes that Red Bull is likely eager for Daniel Ricciardo to join their ranks. This is mainly due to Ricciardo’s popularity, marketing potential, and his existing relationship with Verstappen, as they get along well.
I highly doubt that we would see a strange fallout situation like Monaco 2022 between Verstappen and Ricciardo, unlike the situation between Verstappen and Perez.
However, I have my reservations about Ricciardo. If we objectively assess the current situation, the best driver within the team’s ecosystem is probably Yuki Tsunoda.
The thing is, Tsunoda doesn’t have the same pressure from Honda anymore, nor does he have their backing to push for his position. This puts Tsunoda in an uncomfortable position because if he continues to outperform Ricciardo, it becomes difficult to guarantee Ricciardo’s place as Perez’s successor.
Nevertheless, Ricciardo benefits greatly from his previous experience driving for Red Bull, and the team already knows that he would be a natural replacement for Perez if they decide to go in that direction.
Nevertheless, Yuki Tsunoda is poised to present challenges and strive to render it exceedingly arduous for Horner to overlook his remarkable displays.
The Australian driver possesses greater expertise, and his past association with Verstappen will undeniably work to his advantage.
However, in the end, if he fails to emerge as the swiftest alternative, Red Bull will be compelled to explore alternative options.
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