Daniel Ricciardo looks on (L), Sergio Perez (R). Image courtesy: All images from GettyDaniel Ricciardo looks on (L), Sergio Perez (R). Image courtesy: All images from Getty

Daniel Ricciardo opened up on the prospect of his Red Bull chance amid Sergio Perez’s underwhelming performances. The Australian driver, however, made no predictions and declined to give away any possible hint about the rumored switch.

Owing to Perez’s terrible run of form in 2024, rumors of Daniel Ricciardo replacing Perez at Red Bull have been floating around. Although talk of a swap between Ricciardo and Perez is not new in the sport, the Australian driver’s improving form and Checo’s poor performances thrust them back into the spotlight.

Ricciardo, the Honey Badger, impressed the top brass of the Red Bull fraternity with his recent performances, as he finished inside points in the last two of three races. However, were they enough for Helmut Marko and Co. to decide on his future?

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Speaking about this, Ricciardo said to the media,

“I would never make any predictions in this sport. I feel like every year that this sport goes on, the more it gets. I know it goes in the trend of the sport is getting bigger. It’s becoming more Hollywood, so to speak, in terms of the profile the sport has and also the narrative that runs with the sport now and certainly more Hollywood in terms of it’s so unpredictable.”

“So do I have any proof that I’ll be anywhere else? I do not. Crazy things happen but I am certainly not in a place to say that or think that or predict that so try and keep doing my thing,” Ricciardo added. (Via Planet F1)

Perez had an impressive start to the year, finishing on the podium three times (P2) in the first four races of 2024. However, following his contract renewal, he abruptly lost his form. The Mexican driver signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull, ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

In Canada, Perez suffered a DNF after he lost control of his car. This was the Mexican driver’s second back-to-back DNF after his Monaco jeopardy. While he managed to finish the race in Spain (P8) and Austria (P7), the result was not on expected lines.

Daniel Ricciardo out-qualified Sergio Perez at Silverstone

Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB attend the Drivers Press Conference. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB attend the Drivers Press Conference. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Amid all the talks about Daniel Ricciardo replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull, the Silverstone circuit wasn’t merciful to the Mexican driver. Checo, who is already battling for form, beached his car in Q1.

This was one of Perez’s many Q1 exits, and it surely did not help his cause. Ricciardo, on the other hand, cleared Q1 and qualified in P15. Ricciardo starts Sunday’s race from P15, while Perez will start from P19.

Perez’s teammate Max Verstappen qualified in P4, behind three British drivers George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris. Ricciardo’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, qualified in P13.