Max Verstappen recently discussed his preference between having Daniel Ricciardo or Sergio Perez as his Red Bull teammate. The driver dynamics at Red Bull are among the most fluid in Formula 1, where racers under contract with the team can be moved to their sister team if their performance falls short of expectations. Team Chief Advisor Helmut Marko plays a pivotal role in these driver decisions.
Verstappen’s current teammate, Sergio Perez, experienced a dip in performance earlier in the season, causing the points gap between him and Verstappen to narrow significantly. While Marko has indicated that Perez will stay with Red Bull for 2024 and potentially secure a contract extension, speculation has continued that Daniel Ricciardo could make a return to Red Bull.
Ricciardo was Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull before moving to Renault (now Alpine) in 2018, while Perez joined the team in 2021. When asked about his preference between Perez and Ricciardo as a teammate, Verstappen provided a diplomatic response.
“They (Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez) have been great teammates and it’s not up to me at the end of the day to make these kinds of decisions. So, if it’s Checo next year, then great. I have had a great working relationship with him, and 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.”
“It’s not up to me to decide these things”
Helmut Marko’s recent statement suggesting that Sergio Perez could receive another contract renewal at Red Bull opens the door for Lando Norris to potentially join the team once his McLaren contract expires in 2025. Rumors have circulated that Norris has been in discussions with the current championship-winning team. Since entering Formula 1 in 2019, Lando Norris has been a loyal member of the McLaren team. However, it remains to be seen whether he would choose to remain with Zak Brown’s outfit or make a move to Red Bull Racing in the coming years.
