Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez side-by-side.
As the Red Bull driver speculation continues, it is Sergio Perez’s “disastrous run of results” that could save Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career.
Back on the grid with Red Bull’s junior team, VCARB, Helmut Marko has confirmed Red Bull had hoped Ricciardo could put pressure on Perez and thus take the Red Bull seat for the 2025 championship.
Liam Lawson to Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB, Sergio Perez out?
Instead, Yuki Tsunoda’s presence has put the Honey Badger under pressure this season, resulting in Red Bull granting Perez a new two-year extension until 2025.
PlanetF1.com has learned that Perez’s current form is jeopardizing a particular clause in his contract, which would potentially enable Red Bull to make a driver switch during the summer break.
That clause is said to be his points difference to Max Verstappen, and if it’s more than 100 after the Belgian Grand Prix, Perez could be demoted. Today his deficit is 137 points and he has just two races in which to turn that around.
On Thursday at Silverstone, a third player in Lawson tested the RB20.
There is no information available from Red Bull regarding the Kiwi’s performance, but it could play a significant role in deciding who will be Verstappen’s teammate at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Marc Priestley, a former McLaren mechanic, believes that as the story unfolds, Lawson might find himself driving the RB20, Ricciardo taking the wheel of the VCARB, and Perez ultimately being left on the sidelines.
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“It was another weekend to absolutely forget for Checo, coming on the back of a couple of weekends to forget in all honesty,” he told his YouTube channel.
The discussions in the paddock this weekend have centered more and more around the possibility of Sergio Perez getting replaced before the completion of this season.
Even though he recently agreed to a contract extension, it is highly likely that there are performance-based clauses included. These clauses would allow Red Bull to potentially swap their drivers.
Christian Horner consistently emphasizes that all drivers, whether at Red Bull or RB, are bound by a standard Red Bull contract, allowing for flexibility in their placements within the Red Bull program.
He further commented, “There has been a lot of discussion about Lawson stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB, and it appears to be a plausible outcome. Considering the team’s objectives and Lawson’s impressive performance, it seems like a logical decision as it aligns with their purpose of supporting the main team.”
It is quite evident that Ricciardo is unlikely to be chosen as a future replacement for the Red Bull main team, as he does not fall under the category of a young up-and-coming driver.
“We are unsure if Lawson will become the next Max Verstappen or Sebastian Vettel.”
Last year, we caught a glimpse of him in a few races as a substitute for Ricciardo. However, Red Bull must truly evaluate him to determine his true capabilities. It is highly probable that he possesses greater potential to become a future champion compared to individuals like Ricciardo.
“Will Lawson ultimately secure Ricciardo’s seat in the VCARB? That has been the center of all discussions.”
“Now, the ironic twist is that due to Checo’s string of disastrous results, it might actually be Checo who ends up extending Ricciardo’s F1 career, at least for a short while longer.”
There is speculation that Lawson may replace Checo in the main team during the summer break if Checo’s luck doesn’t turn around soon. If Lawson performs well in the test and demonstrates his abilities as a competent driver, he could potentially secure a spot in the main team.
It is possible that Ricciardo will have another chance to compete, while Checo may be the first among those drivers to be eliminated.
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