RB’s worrying radio message to Daniel Ricciardo about Sergio Perez’s struggles at Singapore Grand Prix

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Daniel Ricciardo looked to be on the verge of replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull just a couple of months ago. Now, Ricciardo is set to lose his spot on the Formula 1 grid altogether.

Perez had finished a disappointing seventh at the Belgian Grand Prix, having started second. Teammate Max Verstappen lined up 11th after an engine penalty, but still finished three spots ahead.

Red Bull planned a meeting for the following day to decide whether Perez would see out the season. Ricciardo, driving for junior team RB, had strengthened his case to replace him by scoring a point.

One report claims Red Bull told Verstappen they were re-signing Ricciardo, only to perform a U-turn. Liberty Media and Carlos Slim may have saved Perez, though the team insist they made their decision for sporting reasons.

Christian Horner expected Perez to improve in Baku and Singapore, and he was partly vindicated. The Mexican outqualified Verstappen for the first time all year in Azerbaijan and was on course for a podium before a race-ending tangle with Carlos Sainz.

However, Singapore was the kind of weekend that raised doubts over his future in the first place. He failed to reach Q3, and could only progress to 10th in the race.

RB engineer told Daniel Ricciardo after Sergio Perez woes against Nico Hulkenberg

Ricciardo finished 18th at Marina Bay, the last of the classified drivers. He made an extra pit stop in the closing laps to take a controversial fastest lap.

It’s likely to be his final Grand Prix – not just at RB but in F1 as a whole – with Liam Lawson due to replace him from Austin onwards. But there were no emotions on the team radio at the end of the race.

Instead, Ricciardo’s engineer Pierre Hamelin ran him through the finishing order. Intriguingly, he only provided context for Perez’s result.

He informed Ricciardo that the 34-year-old had been unable to pass the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg. This was perhaps a worrying reflection of Perez’s standing within the wider Red Bull family.

Hamelin said: “Okay, so that’s Norris, Max, Piastri top three. Russell P4, Leclerc P5, Hamilton P6, Sainz P7, Alonso in P8, Hulkenberg P9 and Perez P10. He’s been trying most of the race to get by Hulkenberg, did not manage. Yuki finished P12 behind Colapinto”

What Giedo van der Garde thinks Daniel Ricciardo should do instead of racing

RB have come under pressure from Visa and Cash App, their title sponsors, to keep Ricciardo. But the matter is ultimately out of their hands.

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are in control of the driver pool and they want to restore the conveyor belt of young talent. Alex Albon was the last to graduate in 2019, and the junior squad have fielded six different racers since.

Ricciardo could stay within the company even without a seat. Red Bull were still able to extract value from him in the first half of 2023 through commercial appearances.

But he may wish to tackle a different series, or even a different industry. Giedo van der Garde has told Ricciardo to explore television because he has the right ‘personality’ for it.