Ricciardo's comeback hopes ruthlessly dashed

1 year ago 81

Despite Sergio Perez's continued struggles successful the 2nd Red Bull seat, Daniel Ricciardo doesn't look to beryllium successful the framework arsenic an contiguous replacement.

Perez was knocked retired successful the archetypal portion of qualifying for the British Grand Prix – the 5th contention successful succession helium volition commencement the expansive prix extracurricular the apical 10.

In each of these 5 races, teammate Max Verstappen has started from pole.

Perez's continued signifier slump instantly brought astir calls for Ricciardo to beryllium shoehorned into his seat.

Daniel Ricciardo successful the paddock astatine the Canadian Grand Prix. (Getty)

But those suggestions person been changeable down by Red Bull elder advisor Helmut Marko, who delivered the connection with a flimsy sting.

"Perez has immoderate weaknesses, this can't beryllium denied if 1 car takes rod and the different can't adjacent exit Q1," Marko said aft qualifying.

"But determination is cipher who would beryllium a viable replacement for him close now."

Ricciardo returned to Red Bull this play arsenic a reserve operator aft 2 hard years astatine McLaren – prevention for that celebrated triumph astatine Monza successful the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

When Ricciardo arrived backmost astatine Red Bull, the squad claimed helium was a shadiness of his erstwhile self, having intelligibly been forced to accommodate his people assertive driving benignant successful his 4 years distant from Red Bull.

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He volition get his archetypal thrust successful Red Bull F1 machinery since the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix successful a tyre trial for Pirelli this week, and past different astatine Monza.

Marko himself admitted the tyre tests are being utilized arsenic an "evaluation" of Ricciardo's pace, but much apt with an oculus towards a spot astatine inferior squad AlphaTauri for 2024.

Ricciardo's erstwhile squad McLaren enjoyed their strongest showing of the twelvemonth successful qualifying astatine Silverstone. Lando Norris volition commencement second, and Oscar Piastri third.

The British Grand Prix starts astatine midnight connected Sunday.

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