Formula 1 Driver Sergio Perez Already Hearing Daniel Ricciardo’s Footsteps At Red Bull

Formula 1 fans were in shock a week ago when the AlphaTauri race team announced it was replacing rookie driver Nyck de Vries with fan favorite Daniel Ricciardo.

Ricciardo had spent the first half of the season as a test driver for the Red Bull team as he looked to work out his future plans after an unsuccessful stint with McLaren.

Red Bull, meanwhile, is largely in charge of the AlphaTauri team as it provides the team with both engines and parts.

But the move still came as a surprise. De Vries had struggled, but so had teammate Yuki Tsunoda in a car that many considered the worst on the F1 grid.

Could Ricciardo help change that? Possibly. But the move led to even wider speculation that Ricciardo could be set to return to Red Bull to team with series champion Max Verstappen in 2024.

Ricciardo spent five years with the team from 2014-2018 and won seven races in that span. He teamed with Verstappen for three of those seasons.

Current Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has had a tough time of things of late. He’s missed the top 10 in qualifying in three consecutive races while Verstappen routine sits on pole.

Perez also committed the ultimate sin of crashing equipment, which is both bad for results and costly.

Perez told media members he’s unbothered by Ricciardo’s return on Thursday.

“I’m happy for Daniel, he’s very motivated to be back, so well done to him,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for him.

“From my side it doesn’t change anything because I drive for Red Bull, there’s not just Daniel out there. It’s Yuki [Tsunoda], it’s more than half of the grid would like to drive for Red Bull. So it doesn’t change anything.”

He also said his future was in his hands.

“It’s in my hands, correct. That’s why I’m focused,” Perez claimed.

Well, those hands made a big mistake on Friday at practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

During a wet session, Perez accidentally clipped the grass and sent his car careening into the barriers. The crash ended his session after just two laps.

Perez could well rebound in the sessions to come. He may even win the race on Sunday. But it sure seems like he’s hearing footsteps.