Daniel Ricciardo has been jumping through hoops for a position that may already be occupied.
According to a shocking revelation, Red Bull has already decided to keep Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate beyond the 2024 season.
Since his stunning switch to the Visa CashApp RB development squad midway through the 2023 season, the Australian has been the front-runner to replace the Mexican driver in Red Bull’s top team.
The veteran driver has made no secret of his desire to earn the second Red Bull seat in 2025, but that goal appears to have been crushed already.
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According to Mexican Fox Sports journalist Luis Manuel Lopez, the reigning world champion squad has offered Perez a one-year contract extension.
In a surprising turn of events, Perez has allegedly declined the contract offer and is instead negotiating a two-year agreement before signing.
“The team already has the contract, and it is for one year,” Lopez told Fox Sports Radio in Spanish.
“They presented it to Checo (Perez), who responded, ‘Mmm, we have to review it’.
“Checo’s lawyers are in that process, but Checo submitted a two-year counterproposal to which, immediately, Red Bull said no.”
It is a significant development that will send shockwaves throughout the Formula One paddock when competition for the few remaining spots in 2025 begins.
Ricciardo and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda were both vying for Perez’s position this season, but neither has been very impressive.
Ricciardo appeared to deliver a blow in the struggle when he knocked Perez out of Q3 in qualifying at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last weekend, but it appears to have been in vain.
Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz have previously been linked to Perez’s post.
Ricciardo is under contract with the Red Bull sister team until the conclusion of the 2024 season, but he may be looking for a new team if his goal of teaming up with Verstappen does not come true.
The Formula One silly season began early this year, following Lewis Hamilton’s surprise switch to Ferrari, but Ricciardo has never been associated with the now-vacant Mercedes position.
Ricciardo’s career took a turn earlier this year when Red Bull senior adviser Helmut Marko intimated that the 34-year-old had a “long-term” contract with the team beyond 2024.Perez appears to have acquired the prized drive, so all bets may be off.
Marko has been one of Perez’s harshest opponents, claiming publicly last month that if Perez is given a multi-year contract, he will “slacken off.”
“Everything is an option,” Marko stated last month.
“Our team is now performing quite well. “If he [Perez] has a two-year contract, there is a chance he will slack off.”
Despite the great strain of having an axe hovering over him, Perez has had a strong start to the 2024 season.
He has never appeared to be bothered by conjecture regarding his future.
“I am pretty relaxed about it, it is my 14th season in F1,” Perez told Sky Sports F1 last month.
“Whatever comes next, I’m really delighted with what I’ve accomplished in the sport thus far.
“I feel it will be a matter of time [until my future is decided], and the driver market is clearly moving, with a lot of activity expected in the next weeks. I expect to know my plans for next year within a month.”
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