Max Verstappen says he will be happy whether Red Bull choose to retain Sergio Perez as his team mate for next year or replace him with Daniel Ricciardo.
Red Bull has stood by Perez despite a series of poor results in his third year at the team, in which he has scored less than half as many points as Verstappen. Team principal Christian Horner has repeatedly stated Perez will see out the second year of his current contract with them in 2024.However Verstappen, who has won the drivers’ world championship in each of the three seasons he has raced alongside Perez, is prepared for the possibility his former team mate Ricciardo could return in time for the start of next season.
“I always had a great relationship with Daniel when we were team mates – and when, of course, we weren’t,” said Verstappen, who drove alongside Ricciardo from 2016 to 2018.
“But at the same time also I have a great relationship with Checo, so I find it a bit unfair to now sit here and say who I would prefer as a team mate or whatever.
“They have been great team mates and it’s not up to me at the end of the day to make these kinds of decisions because I’m very focused on my own performance. So if it’s Checo next year, then great. I have had a great work and working relationship with him, but also personally, I think he’s a great guy. And if it’s Daniel then also we will get along fine and we’ll have a great time.”
However Ricciardo dismissed suggestions that he now in line to replace Perez and race alongside Verstappen at Red Bull in 2024.
“Obviously all the stuff around my contract next year has been related to AlphaTauri,” he said. “So I would say that’s honestly as far as that goes.”
Ricciardo returned to F1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July, then missed five races due to injury. He scored AlphaTauri’s best result of the season last week in Mexico, in the second race since returning from injury.
“I think for me personally, having a weekend like Mexico is just definitely good for the soul,” he said. “Also for the team – I haven’t been here long, but for them to be tenth in the constructors [championship] and to jump two places in the space of two weekends was huge.
“So I think that kind of creates a very happy atmosphere around everyone. So I’m kind of happy doing that and try to just keep charging on where I am.”
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dot_com (@dot_com)
2nd November 2023, 17:52
I wonder how he would feel about Alonso as a team mate.
Ben
2nd November 2023, 18:05
That’ll never happen.
David BR (@david-br)
2nd November 2023, 22:37
It’s currently being ‘rumoured’ but I tend to file the rumours away as contract-boosting gossip deliberately circulated among ‘friendly media’ by drivers/managers to lever better terms or a contract elsewhere etc.
However, it’s an interesting question: would Alonso take the challenge? Personally I think he’d lose comprehensively to Verstappen over a season if both were in the Red Bull. But obviously FA won’t think that.
Todfod (@todfod)
3rd November 2023, 11:14
Alonso would take it on… its better to have a shot at that 3rd title than languish in the midfield. It’s hard to see him matching Verstappen over an entire season, but then again, I didn’t think Alonso would be much of a driver when he returned to the sport in 2021 either.
There are only 2 or 3 drivers that can really take the fight to Verstappen in the same machinery, and Hamilton and Alonso would definitely be on that list. Its questionable whether anyone could beat Max though.
David BR (@david-br)
3rd November 2023, 11:42
@todfod Had it been this season, he’d have been taking regular second places at least, so we’d have seen the championship battle extend to the last race(s) perhaps, at the very least.
I’d say (in order) Hamilton, Leclerc and Alonso as the strongest potential challenges, Piastri an unknown. Hamilton would find it easiest to adapt to the Red Bull and is more consistent than Leclerc. Hamilton and Alonso the two most competitive.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd November 2023, 19:30
I’m sure he’s not afraid of alonso, however you could get another 2007 in terms of team dynamic.
David BR (@david-br)
2nd November 2023, 22:44
@esploratore1 A bit different. Alonso (reportedly) felt he was McLaren’s no 1 driver and should have been treated as such (preferentially). But he’d be arriving at Red Bull with Max as clear no 1 driver for nearly all previous seasons and having won the last three titles for the team. A closer example would be Alonso arriving at Ferrari with Massa there (previous Ferrari WDC winner) when really he had to assert his team dominance on track – or try to. Seeing him jump in front of Verstappen on his way into the pits to grab the first tyre change would be a seasonal highlight…
Tommy Scragend
3rd November 2023, 7:29
Only if you live on Planet Felipe.
David BR (@david-br)
3rd November 2023, 11:37
Oh yeah! I can’t believe I did that! Some parallel universe part of my brain actually forgot FIA hasn’t approved that one yet!
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
2nd November 2023, 18:00
I can see the documentation now:
‘2024 Red Bull Racing ‘B’ Driver Contract’
Jeffrey Powell
2nd November 2023, 18:12
How about Lando. or Charles , but unfortunately neither would want to play second fiddle so those Max v Lewis crashes would probably look extremely tame. All very academic because Max would veto any real challenger, who can blame him.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
2nd November 2023, 19:33
Verstappen said specifically he isn’t afraid of anyone as team mate, and he’s not known as a liar, so I doubt he’d veto strong drivers, but probably it’s red bull who doesn’t want another 2007 situation.
Doggy
3rd November 2023, 0:34
You’re talking as if Max is the owner of the team, or son of the owner.
If RbR, who is the most successful team in the past 20 years, decides that is best to have a #1 and #2, then maybe, just maybe, they are right to take that approach.
The only 2 drivers in the world that could actually challenge him are Lewis and Alonso.
Lando and Lecrerc are not consistent enough like to beat Max over a season long.
Sainz is about to beat Lecrerc, again. The same Sainz who scored a third of the points that Verstappen got in his rookie season (as teammates).
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd November 2023, 2:01
Is red bull really the most successful team of the last 20 years? They won 7 driver’s titles and 6 constructor’s titles, while mercedes won 7 driver’s titles and 8 constructor’s.
David (@nvherman)
3rd November 2023, 8:45
Plus the WDC and WCC they won as BrawnGP… :D
Doggy
3rd November 2023, 12:39
I stand corrected. It should have read one the most (Mercs, Ferrari, and RBR). Brawn does not count as Mercedes team.
Yet, my principle stands.
Ferrari: Schumacher clear #1 and then #2
Merc: for many years Lewis #1 and Bottas #2
Just to be clear, I don’t agree with unnecessary team orders. Yet, that does not mean that it may not be the best for them.
Jim from US (@jimfromus)
3rd November 2023, 0:08
They really need to put someone else in that seat to make it a little interesting on race weekends.
MichaelV12 (@michaelv12)
3rd November 2023, 8:21
In an ideal world – but they would be looking for someone who ticks these boxes:
———————————
(A) is better than Perez and
(B) wants to be in Red Bull no 2
———————————
Who would that be?
Can’t see any of the Ferrari or Mercedes drivers going for Red Bull no 2 – they are most likely better off where they are.
Lando Norris is also in a good place and McLaren seems to be on an upward trend.
Alonso is still fast but would he want to risk getting beaten by Verstappen?
Albon and Gasly (and Kvyat) have already been in that seat…
Maybe Piastri might tick both boxes – at a pinch – but he has no history with Red Bull, so that’s a long shot.
Within the ranks, Red Bull have either Ricciardo or Tsunoda.
Lawson did well as Ricciardo’s relief driver but would need a season or two with Alpha Tauri first.
I’m sure Perez feels the pressure (a lot), but I don’t really see anyone else who could (or wants to) jump in and do a better job at this point.
Ferdinand
3rd November 2023, 9:26
Their only option is Ricciardo for the reasons you stated. It cant be Piastri since he would basically throw in the towel before his career even started. It has to be someone who knows its already over for him. Ricciardo seems ideal.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
3rd November 2023, 11:10
What about Picardo? Does he mind him?
osnola
3rd November 2023, 12:46
Flying the enterprise I guess?