F1: 'Ricciardo's target should be to replace Perez'

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says Daniel Ricciardo’s target is to put himself in position to replace Sergio Perez in 2025.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Horner, speaking on Ricciardo’s current contract situation, said, “At the moment there’s only something in place until the end of this current season.

“So there are no thoughts or expectations beyond that.

“We’ve loaned him to AlphaTauri to the end of the year.

“Obviously, our drivers will be Max and Checo [Sergio Perez] again next year. But it’s always good to have talent in reserve.

“I think Daniel is viewing his AlphaTauri ride as a way to be pitching for that 2025 Red Bull seat. That’s his golden objective. And by going to AlphaTauri, I think he sees that as his best route of stating his case for 2025.”

Ricciardo on a Scooter - Like he never left — Ricciardo on a Scooter at Hungarian GP – Like he never left

Verstappen’s talent makes Perez choke

2016 F1 World Champion, Nico Rosberg, was under similar pressure as Sergio Perez [Checo] is driving alongside a great driver – in Rosberg’s case, Lewis Hamilton.

Rosberg blocked out all social media and regular media to reduce the pressure.

Rosberg advises Checo to block out the noise.

“Avoid all media. Just don’t look at it—because he will see all the memes and reactions against him, and the journalists with loaded questions against him.”

“You really have to let that go, and I did at the time — social media, e-mail, news, I ignored the whole world in the years I fought for the title.”