The decision of Daniel Ricciardo to join AlphaTauri, replacing Nyck de Vries, is largely viewed by many as a temporary arrangement that could allow the Australian to reclaim a position at Red Bull Racing.
Perez, whose contract extends to the close of 2024, has led many to speculate that Ricciardo could rejoin Red Bull after spending a year and a half at AlphaTauri.
Despite these speculations, Perez, the Mexican F1 driver, asserts that it’s commonplace for other drivers to covet his position.
“It makes no difference to me, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m driving for Red Bull,” said Perez in an interview with F1 Flow.com regarding recent shifts.
“Daniel isn’t the only contender; it’s also Yuki [Tsunoda], and more than half of the grid would jump at the chance to drive for Red Bull. Therefore, nothing really changes.”
Adding to his point, Perez said, “Having been in F1 for 13 years, I don’t tend to look too far into the future.
“I’ve been working closely with the engineers and honestly, I haven’t even had time to talk about Daniel’s situation. It’s a wonderful opportunity for him. That’s all there is to it.
Daniel Ricciardo, Scuderia AlphaTauri
Photo by: Michael Potts / F1 Flow Images
“My focus is on the upcoming races in Hungary and then Belgium, I’m not really pondering about 2025, it’s too far away. It doesn’t make sense to look that far ahead.”
When asked about de Vries, Perez said, “It’s a pity for Nyck. His time in F1 was brief and rather harsh – his F1 experience was short-lived.
“But no one can predict what his future will bring. That’s just how F1 operates.”
After his single replacement stint for Williams at Monza last year, de Vries had ten races with AlphaTauri, but unfortunately didn’t manage to secure any points in 2023.
When asked if de Vries deserved more time in the car, Perez commented, “It’s challenging to judge. Sometimes drivers are given more time due to certain situations. Daniel becoming available was just bad luck for him.”
In-season driver replacements at the Red Bull-owned teams have become a recurrent theme with de Vries’ departure from AlphaTauri being the latest example.
However, Perez feels confident about his future, stating, “It’s under my control.
“I’m here to win, not for a disappointing weekend. If that were the case, I would rather be at home doing something else.
“I’m here because I know I can deliver, as I have in the past. Armchair critics often overlook how much we focus on minute details. This has been seen with other drivers and teams during tough times. However, they don’t have a ready line of replacements after each session, like the Red Bull drivers do.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sergio Perez’s F1 future
What is Sergio Perez’s response to Daniel Ricciardo’s move to AlphaTauri?
Sergio Perez asserts that Ricciardo’s move to AlphaTauri doesn’t affect his position at Red Bull, indicating that many drivers covet a position at Red Bull and that it doesn’t alter his situation or focus.
Who is Daniel Ricciardo replacing at AlphaTauri?
Daniel Ricciardo is replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri.
When does Sergio Perez’s contract with Red Bull end?
Sergio Perez’s contract with Red Bull is due to end at the close of 2024.
What does Sergio Perez say about Nyck de Vries’ short experience in F1?
Perez expresses sympathy for de Vries, describing his stint in F1 as brief and rather harsh. He does, however, note that the future is unpredictable and things could change for de Vries.
Does Perez have control over his future in Red Bull?
According to Perez, his future is in his own hands and he is in the sport to win. He emphasizes that he is capable of delivering and has done so in the past.
More about Sergio Perez’s F1 future
- Sergio Perez’s career statistics
- Daniel Ricciardo’s transition to AlphaTauri
- Information on Red Bull Racing
- Details on Nyck de Vries’ F1 career
- Red Bull’s driver transfers and changes
5 comments
I feel bad for De Vries, guy barely got a shot. Hope he gets another chance soon…
Gotta respect Perez, always focused on the next race. That’s why he’s lasted so long in F1!
Man, I can’t believe Ricciardo’s movin’ again! what’s that like the third time in 5 years?
interesting to see if Daniel does move back to Red Bull. makes u think doesn’t it?
Perez seems super chill bout all this. Guess thats the confidence when you got a contract till 2024 huh.