Ricciardo spoke to Mekies and Horner after the race in Belgium
The Australian was spotted after the Grand Prix in the company of his boss Laurent Mekies and Red Bull director Christian Horner. A discussion that has fuelled rumours of a return to the Austrian team.
As the summer break is barely beginning after the Belgian Grand Prix, transfer rumors are already shaking up the world of Formula 1. After intensified discussions between Carlos Sainz and Williams, attention is now turning to Daniel Ricciardo. The Racing Bulls driver was seen after the Grand Prix with Laurent Mekies and Christian Horner, suggesting a future at Red Bull, particularly due to Sergio Perez’s insufficient performances.
the full video of Daniel seen in conversation with Mekies and Horner post race. Appears that Horner and Mekies walked off together afterwards. #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/Og2paljEFz
— meredith (@mereeedithh) July 28, 2024
A second more consistent driver needed for Red Bull.
At the Canadian Grand Prix, Sergio Perez had signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull, supposed to give him confidence. However, his performances have not been up to par, making mistakes and delivering poor results. This situation is unacceptable for Red Bull, especially as McLaren and Mercedes are back in the race, preventing Max Verstappen from dominating all the races. Red Bull has therefore issued an ultimatum to Perez, with the obligation to achieve excellent results in Budapest and Spa-Francorchamps.
The threat of losing his seat did not revive Perez. A mistake in qualifying in Hungary and a worrying race in Spa, where he finished seventh after Russell’s disqualification, did not reassure the team. Helmut Marko was particularly critical: Sergio had the opportunity to achieve a good result from second place. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Especially in the final stint, he completely collapsed, posting lap times of 1m48s.
Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull seems compromised. Several Red Bull academy drivers are knocking on the door. However, among the potential recruits, one name seems to stand out: Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian, who finished tenth at the Grand Prix, has been seen in discussion with Mekies and Horner, which fuels speculation about a possible arrival as early as the return to Zandvoort.
This Wednesday, Red Bull scheduled comparative tests in Imola during a filming day for the junior team, Racing Bulls. Yuki Tsunoda will drive this year’s car, indicating that he will not be placed in the Red Bull team. On their side, Lawson and Ricciardo will test a 2022 F1 car to assess their performance. These tests could be decisive for Red Bull’s choice.
According to the latest rumors, Red Bull is considering replacing Perez with Ricciardo after the break and placing Lawson in the Racing Bulls. The images provided by Spanish photographers from DAZN seem to support this possibility. The summer break is therefore shaping up to be very intense for Red Bull, which will have to make crucial decisions in the coming days.
