Formula 1’s silly season has finally kicked off, and its not even the summer break yet! But what a merry-go-round we’re in for this season. With Daniel Ricciardo making his hotly anticipated comeback with AlphaTauri, are we in with the prospects of seeing a big, big change at the very top of Formula 1? Ricciardo is no rookie, and his admittance with Red Bull‘s B-team can only be speculated as a test for his chance to shine at the very top with the Bulls.
At least that’s what fans have been theorizing. That being said, a Milton-Keynes insider has probably broken the internet with a tantalizing proposition that would not sit very well with the incumbent Sergio Perez.
Just IMAGINE if Ricciardo comes into AlphaTauri, scores points in the next 2 races and they do a summer break swap with him and Perez 😂
— Ponden (@Ponden_) July 11, 2023
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Ponden, who is a content creator for Red Bull, tweeted, “Just IMAGINE if Ricciardo comes into AlphaTauri, scores points in the next 2 races and they do a summer break swap with him and Perez.” This was enough for fans to go wild and start manifesting that dream.
Fans react as Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo prospect emerges
At this stage in his career, the only reason why he’s been given a chance at AlphaTauri is to see if he still has what it takes to be at the very front of the F1 pack alongside Max Verstappen. Naturally, his stint with the Faenza-based team till the end of the season will also dictate Perez’s 2024 season.
If this comes true, it would be a brutal reality check for Perez who only recently declared ‘I don’t care if I’m honest’ when asked about the Ricciardo swap rumors. As soon as Ponden tweeted this, fans rushed to the social networking platform to share their reactions. Let’s take a look at just a few of the fan reactions to this viral Daniel Ricciardo theory!
Read More: Max Verstappen & Co’s Devious Plan to Throw Out Sergio Perez Exposed After Sacking of Nyck De Vries
redbull and danny could do something so funny 😭 https://t.co/r73vkM7Uvo
— M (@lastlapsainz) July 12, 2023
Imagine https://t.co/6Q9RmhwjQM
— rameen (@Rameenn0) July 13, 2023
Netflix would be buzzing https://t.co/BMMOXQcvXB
— Gareth McVeigh (@GarethMcveigh13) July 12, 2023
The dream https://t.co/lrUmg8faQ9
— Defiantdiz (@defiantdiz) July 11, 2023
That wasn’t it though. As soon as this theory was floated on the internet, fans went rampant with their take on it. Many started speculating about the real reason why Ricciardo was given a second chance at Red Bull, while others will mull over the fate of Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda!
If he drops below 2 in the standings it’s on the table… if riccardo out qualifies or even somehow finishes above him in a race on merit alone, in the crappy AT, then it’s all over for him
— Phil (@xloverGT) July 12, 2023
Low-key think that’s why they done the De Vries swap BEFORE summer break 🥵.
— Brad (@Brad_MV33) July 12, 2023
Imagine RedBull 1 – 2 – 3 in Drivers Championship
— PRAMEI 🇦🇹🇦🇷🇲🇽🇫🇮 (@Pramei_14) July 12, 2023
And that's not the worst part, Perez gets booted to AT, he picks some more points to them, only Yuki to be booted out for Lawson at the end of the season.😂😂😂
— Srikanth/ಶ್ರೀಕಾಂತ್ (@kanthf1) July 12, 2023
Next Year pic.twitter.com/hah77VvkZI
— Racingfan (@JerryCube1) July 12, 2023
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I mean it’s red bull so it’s very possible 😂
— Dan Chamberlain (@Dan_C1990) July 12, 2023
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If this has to come true then Ricciardo has two races to prove his mettle. The Hungarian GP is a track where he has won before, and Spa Francorchamps is an ideal circuit for the Honey Badger to show his overtaking prowess. Can Ricciardo once again become the last of the late brakers and swoop into the second Red Bull seat come the end of August?