Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has recently been discussing development driver Daniel Ricciardo and current second driver Sergio Perez, as both drivers appear to consider their future to be with the Austrians.
Ricciardo returned to Red Bull for 2023 in a behind-the-scenes role to rediscover his love of Formula 1, following a miserable two-year spell at McLaren.
The Australian endured a horrific couple of seasons with the Woking-based team, which left him wanting to take a year out of the sport.
Having since returned to Red Bull though, Ricciardo is keen to return to the grid, with a move to AlphaTauri for 2024 having been speculated.
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Whether he still has the speed to be on the grid is something which needs answering, prior to any team signing him.
Ricciardo is actually set to test the dominant RB19 in two weeks, following the British Grand Prix.
Red Bull are set to use the 33-year-old in a Pirelli tyre test at the Silverstone International Circuit, with Marko admitting that the test will show where the fan favourite “really stands”.
Of course, a seat could become available soon at Red Bull, due to how badly Sergio Perez is performing.
The Mexican has failed to finish on the podium or progress to Q3 in the last three races, leading to speculation that he won’t be offered a new contract.
Perez is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2024, with Marko having previously stressed that his deal will be honoured.
Whether he’s retained for 2025 seemingly depends on the Mexican, and whether he is performing at a good enough level when the Milton Keynes-based team make their decision.
Should they decide to look elsewhere, then Yuki Tsunoda is the favourite to be promoted, with him having shown considerable improvement this season.
This would open up a seat at the Faenza-based team for 2025; however, a seat could be available for 2024 if Nyck de Vries isn’t retained.
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Marko and Red Bull certainly have a lot of decisions to make, although the 80-year-old is aware that the Austrians must keep their “options open”.
“We will have Ricciardo in the car for three days after Silverstone for the tyre test and then you can evaluate where Ricciardo really stands,” Marko told ORF.
“His original goal [of Perez] was to stay [at Red Bull] for two or three years, so it would be more than planned. And you just have to keep your options open in terms of successor.”