32-podium driver was ‘dead-cert’ for top F1 seat next year before tough start to 2024

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One driver seemed destined to race for Red Bull in 2025 ‘only a few weeks ago’ before struggling at the start of the season, according to Haydn Cobb.

Sergio Perez is out of contract with the world champions at the end of the season and is under pressure to close the gap to Max Verstappen.

Fortunately for the Mexican, Cobb feels one of his rivals for the drive is on the backfoot.

Perez finished a whopping 290 points adrift of the title-winner last season, the largest-ever margin between first and second in the championship.

Red Bull won 21 of the season’s 22 races, but Verstappen was responsible for 19 of those victories.

The Dutchman also out-paced the former McLaren driver in 20 out of 22 qualifying sessions.

Perez has made a solid but unspectacular start to a vital year by completing Red Bull one-twos in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

He hasn’t managed to join Verstappen on the front row at either races, but he’s been able to make progress during the Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull chances have receded

Speaking on the post-Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Autosport podcast, Cobb said that Daniel Ricciardo appeared a ‘dead-cert’ for a 2025 Red Bull return before the season started.

Ricciardo raced for Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 and rejoined sister team AlphaTauri midway through last season after McLaren axed him in 2023.

Cobb feels that Christian Horner may have to rethink any plans he had to promote Ricciardo at the expense of Perez.

He said (34:30): “The person that was meant to be lined up for this, and seemed dead-cert only a few weeks ago, was Daniel Ricciardo.

“If you go on the first two races of the season… not at the moment.”

What has gone wrong for Ricciardo?

Ricciardo finished the season-opening Bahrain GP in 12th place but admitted that he found most of the race ‘painful’.

He was also involved in controversy as teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who isn’t thought to be in contention for Red Bull, fumed at orders to let him by.

In Saudi Arabia, the Japanese driver got the better of his more experienced partner in both qualifying and the race.

David Croft felt it was a ‘frustrating’ evening for the Australian, who didn’t ‘make an impression’ in 16th place.

Ricciardo took seven of his eight wins and 29 of his 32 podiums to date during his first stint at Red Bull.

But if he continues to struggle in this manner then his chances of making a comeback will grow increasingly remote.