Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has confirmed that the Austrians will stick with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez next season, honouring the duo’s contracts.
Whilst the reigning World Champion has several years left on his deal, 2024 is Perez’s last season on his current contract.
There had been some suggestions that he could receive the axe early given his recent struggles; however, Horner has quashed those rumours.
“Obviously our drivers are going to be Max (Verstappen) and Checo (Perez) next year,” Horner said.
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It means Daniel Ricciardo will not race for Red Bull next season, no matter how well he performs in the remainder of the season for AlphaTauri.
However, Horner did admit that Ricciardo is in contention for the currently vacant Red Bull seat in 2025.
“But it’s always good to have talent in reserve and I think Daniel … firmly wants to be pitching for that 2025 Red Bull seat,” Horner said.
“That’s his goal and objective, and by going to AlphaTauri, he sees that as his best route of stating his case for 2025.”
Ricciardo has done excellently since he returned to the grid at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he out-qualified and finished ahead of Yuki Tsunoda.
The Japanese driver qualified ahead of Ricciardo on Friday at the Belgian Grand Prix though, with the 34-year-old having been eliminated in Q1.
His final lap was deleted after he exceeded track limits at Raidillon, eliminating him from qualifying much to his disappointment.
“It’s frustrating of course,” Ricciardo said.
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“I knew I basically tried to Eau Rouge flat. I thought it was possible and I just felt I was drifting off the good line and I had to lift to just stay on track and it was just drifting, drifting.
“As soon as I got over that turn four kerb where they said I did track limits, I knew it was probably over. Obviously I tried to put it behind me and keep going on with the lap … but in the end it’s frustrating when you (exceed) track limits and lose time.
“I felt comfortable enough and if given a chance in Q2 we could have kept chipping away at it. Disappointing outcome but I think we’ll work it out nicely.”