Hidden problem with Ricciardo's new role

1 year ago 77

He whitethorn person signed connected arsenic Red Bull Racing's 3rd operator for adjacent season, but Daniel Ricciardo is improbable to spot immoderate contention enactment with the squad successful 2023, and perchance beyond.

Ricciardo volition instrumentality to Milton Keynes successful a non-racing relation adjacent play — 4 years aft helium departed the squad. However, portion the presumption keeps the fashionable Aussie successful the paddock, it doesn't warrant him a spot connected the grid.

Red Bull announced the signing connected Wednesday night, aft Ricciardo and the squad some indicated during past weekend's play finale they were successful precocious talks.

LIVE UPDATES: FIFA World Cup 2022, time 4 highlights

The 33-year-old becomes an hold of the team's operator line-up which includes Ricciardo's erstwhile teammate Max Verstappen, and Mexican racer Sergio Perez.

In his relation arsenic 3rd driver, Ricciardo volition assistance Red Bull with investigating and simulator work, arsenic good arsenic commercialized enactment and operator development.

But with each the anticipation of rejoining a top-tier team, Red Bull brag Christian Horner has dismissed claims that Ricciardo could instrumentality implicit from Perez.

Speaking astatine the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Horner suggested that Ricciardo's declaration would not see a proviso that could spot him regenerate Perez portion helium completes retired two-year arrangement.

"No," helium said.

"Daniel's declaration is precise circumstantial for a circumstantial reason.

"We person a declaration with Checo for the adjacent 2 years. The concern Max and Checo has produced has been phenomenal for us, and they bash person a bully relationship.

"They've raced good for the team, and we've got nary crushed to spot that being immoderate antithetic time oregon for the duration of their contractual committedness to the squad thereafter."

Perez signed a new, two-year declaration successful May, a woody that volition spot him spouse Verstappen until the extremity of the 2024 season.

Talk of Ricciardo moving into the premier presumption to oust Perez came to a caput aft Verstappen steadfastly refused to assistance Perez connected the last thigh of the Brazilian Grand Prix, erstwhile Red Bull instructed the two-time satellite champion to propulsion implicit and springiness Perez sixth place.

There were reports that hostility had been simmering since the Monaco Grand Prix with Verstappen believing Perez intentionally crashed astatine the extremity of qualifying. Perez went connected to triumph the contention portion Verstappen finished third.

In different stroke to Ricciardo's hopes, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko besides confirmed Kiwi Liam Lawson would travel connected arsenic the squad's authoritative reserve operator connected apical of driving successful the Super Formula championship.

Having Lawson successful the ceremonial reserve operator relation means Ricciardo is not the archetypal prime to regenerate Verstappen oregon Perez crossed a contention play if either is unfit to compete.

Ricciardo was paid retired from McLarenwith 1 twelvemonth remaining connected his declaration to marque mode for chap Australian Oscar Piastri astatine the Woking-based team.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!