F1 pundit claims Sergio Perez is ‘not safe’ as Red Bull realizes Daniel Ricciardo’s best replacement is the Australian himself

Will Buxton believes that Daniel Ricciardo will remain a constant threat to Sergio Perez's Red Bull seat.

F1 pundit claims Sergio Perez is ‘not safe’ as Red Bull realizes Daniel Ricciardo’s best replacement is the Australian himself

Sergio Perez [L] Daniel Ricciardo [R] (Via IMAGO)

Sergio Perez has had a difficult 2023 F1 season. The Mexican driver struggled for the majority of the season while his teammate Max Verstappen comfortably clinched the world title. Rumors had surfaced that Checo might be replaced in 2024 by Daniel Ricciardo. Although, Red Bull made it clear that Perez will stay at Milton Keynes next year. However, F1 presenter Will Buxton claims that the 33-year-old is still not in a safe spot.

Ricciardo replaced the ousted Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri mid-way through 2023. Many believed that this was to test the Australian driver for a potential Red Bull seat if Perez failed to perform. Buxton reckoned that Sergio Perez’s seat would remain in danger as long as the Honey Badger is part of the Faenza-based team.

For as long as Daniel’s sitting in that Alpha Tauri, he [Sergio Perez] is not going to be safe.
Will Buxton said on The Fast and the Curious podcast (H&T: Planetf1)

Will Buxton was convinced that Red Bull signed Ricciardo for AlphaTauri as a way to pressurize Checo. Moreover, the F1 presenter claimed that the Austrian team was aware that Daniel Ricciardo might be the best option to partner with Max Verstappen since he left the team at the end of 2018. As multiple drivers have tried and failed to be Verstappen’s teammate at Milton Keynes.

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Because the only reason Daniel’s there is to put pressure on him. And I think Red Bull has probably come to the realisation that the only driver who can replace Daniel, is Daniel.

Will Buxton believes Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo would make the best driver lineup

The F1 journalist reckoned that if Daniel Ricciardo could be back in his prime form, then Red Bull would put him alongside Verstappen straightaway. Buxton believes that this pairing would be the ideal driver line-up for the Milton Keynes-based team. With the two drivers having shared a positive relationship during their time as teammates a few years ago.

They [Verstappen and Ricciardo] were the best driver lineup that they’ve had in terms of a two-driver team, I think ever. And Daniel played really nicely with Max, and Max looked up to and respected Daniel.

Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo at the RB-19 launch (image via PlanetF1)
Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo at the RB-19 launch (image via PlanetF1)

Although, Will Buxton pointed out that the dynamic between the two would be different this time around. As Max Verstappen has established himself as one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history. While Daniel Ricciardo has been through a performance slump in the last two seasons when he raced for McLaren.

I don’t think it’d be quite the same now because Max has elevated himself to a level that’s beyond almost any driver and Formula 1.

Daniel Ricciardo has shown promising pace since his return to the grid this season. The Australian driver is motivated to make his place at a top team once again. Subsequently, the 34-year-old would be looking to prove himself next season if he wants to replace Sergio Perez at the Austrian team after the Mexican’s contract runs out in 2025.

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