Helmut Marko’s major Sergio Perez boost amidst Daniel Ricciardo comeback plans

There’s good news for Daniel Ricciardo, but also Sergio Perez, with Helmut Marko saying the Aussie has a shot at returning to the senior team but it won’t be before Perez’s “contract expires” in 2024.

Ricciardo returned to the Formula 1 grid at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Aussie loaned to AlphaTauri from Red Bull for the rest of the season as he stepped into the AT04 to replace the ousted Nyck de Vries.

But making it clear that he wants to use that as an audition for Perez’s Red Bull drive, the under-fire Mexican driver found himself with yet more pressure on his shoulders.

‘Daniel Ricciardo promotion only possible after Sergio Perez’s contract expires’

He rose to the challenge, breaking into Q3 for the first time since Miami and following that up with a podium finish before a solid race in Belgium yielded his first back-to-back podium results since Baku and Miami.

Consolidating his position in second place in theDrivers’ Championshipas he extended his advantage over Fernando Alonso to 40 points, Perez is once again doing the job that Marko and Co want from him.

As such the Red Bull motorsport advisor says if Ricciardo wants the Red Bull, he can fight for it, but it won’t be before 2025.

“If Ricciardo presents himself well, he could certainly be an issue for Red Bull Racing in the future,” he toldKleine Zeitung. “But that will certainly only be possible after the end of the 2024 season, when Perez’s contract expires.”

现在红牛基于“增大化现实”技术e hoping to use Ricciardo’s experience to guide AlphaTauri out from the bottom spots on the log.

“Of course that helps,” he said, “and with his routine he can clearly tell us what and how we have to start with the car.”

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Marko’s comments follow on from Red Bull team boss Christian Horner’s recent interview on the F1 Nation podcast where he said: “Obviously our drivers are going to be Max [Verstappen] and Checo next year but it’s always good to have talent in reserve and I think Daniel… firmly wants to be pitching for that 2025 Red Bull seat.

“That’s his goal and objective, and by going to AlphaTauri, he sees that as his best route of stating his case for 2025.”

But as Perez is facing competition for his seat, so too is Ricciardo with Red Bull junior Liam Lawson wanting to ensure Ricciardo’s second stint at AlphaTauri is a brief one.

Asked about the junior driver, who is currently competing in Super Formula, Marko said: “We have been in contact with Liam. He will act as a reserve driver for both teams for the rest of the season and will complete the young driver test. So the development program is ongoing.”

And it is Ricciardo’s seat he is chasing with Marko all but confirming Yuki Tsunoda will remain in the other AlphaTauri seat.

“Of course, that depends on the further results. But there are already discussions with our partner Honda. You can assume that it will happen if you take this year’s performances,” he said.

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