Red Bull has shaken the F1 world not just with its dominance but with its decision to place Daniel Ricciardo in the AlphaTauri car for the remainder of the 2023 season. This move puts significant pressure on Sergio Perez, whose recent poor performance has raised concerns within the team. As Red Bull’s dominance on the grid faces little threat, Perez must deliver strong results to secure his place. Furthermore, Lewis Hamilton‘s scathing accusations regarding McLaren being “Red Bull rip-off” only adds fuel to the fire.

Red Bull‘s strategic maneuver came to light during a routine Pirelli tire test, with Ricciardo’s impressive performance during the test, Red Bull was blown away, reigniting their confidence in the Australian driver. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez has experienced a horrible downfall in form since his second-place finish at the Miami Grand Prix in May, leading to growing frustration within the team. While McLaren’s strong performance after their recent major upgrade, with Lando Norris even leading laps at Silverstone, serves as a reminder that Max Verstappen & Co. cannot afford to underestimate the competition.

According to Jake Boxall-Legge in the AutosportF1 and Motorsports podcast, Perez’s failures, particularly in qualifying, could prove to be a disaster for Red Bull. Boxall-Legge stated, “They are gonna win the world championships this year & next year. But no, they won’t win with this many points for constructors as perhaps they would like for record books because of Sergio Perez’s failures this year, particularly in qualifying, but yes, they can already see other teams developing, converging. Lewis Hamilton says that the McLaren is a Red Bull rip-off.” With the convergence of other teams’, Perez’s failure to qualify and perform at his best would have dire consequences for Red Bull.

While Red Bull remains the dominant force in F1, the team is facing increasing pressure from rivals who are rapidly improving. Furthermore, there are concerns for Perez, as Ricciardo’s success could prompt Red Bull to consider a similar path.

Read more: Nyck De Vries’ Manager Reveals Disrespectful Treatment Meted Out by Red Bull to His Client While Revealing the Forced Reason Behind Unexpected Announcement

The Rise of Daniel Ricciardo: A Threat to Sergio Perez?

Ricciardo’s move to AlphaTauri comes after Nyck de Vries was released from the team due to his underwhelming performances. With Ricciardo’s wealth of experience, Sky Sports pundit Ted Kravitz expects him to outpace his teammate Yuki Tsunoda and score points consistently. However, the primary objective for Ricciardo is to help AlphaTauri avoid finishing last in the constructors’ championship, which would be a calamity for Red Bull Racing.

According to Kravitz, saving AlphaTauri from a last-place finish would put Ricciardo in a strong position to challenge Perez for a seat at Red Bull Racing in 2024. Kravitz commented, “If AlphaTauri finish last in the constructors, that’s a calamity. That is disastrous for Red Bull, and if Ricciardo can save them from doing that, he’s done the job that they want him to do and he’ll be in good shape, potentially, to challenge for Checo Perez’s seat in 2024.”

The spotlight will be on Ricciardo as his performances could shape the course of his career within RBR, and he may finally get his “fairytale” ending. What do you think RBR will do next?

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