What Red Bull really think about Daniel Ricciardo return if Max Verstappen gets an F1 race ban

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Red Bull are now having to consider potential replacements for Max Verstappen with the four-time reigning Formula 1 drivers’ champion at risk of drawing a one-race ban.

The 27-year-old has put himself just one penalty point away from meriting an automatic ban after Verstappen drove into George Russell in the Spanish Grand Prix. His impulsive blunder in Barcelona saw the Dutchman receive a 10-second time penalty plus three penalty points.

The Red Bull star now has 11 penalty points in the rolling 12-month period since Verstappen crashed into Lando Norris in the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix. Any driver who gets 12 points on their FIA superlicence in a year gets an automatic ban for the next event on the F1 calendar.

So, Verstappen must now get through the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix on June 13-15 and Austrian GP on June 27-29 without drawing a single penalty point. He will lose two points on June 30 but will not lose anymore until October 27 and will walk a tightrope for nine rounds.

Red Bull do not want Daniel Ricciardo or Sergio Perez standing in if Max Verstappen gets a race ban

Red Bull fear Verstappen will get a ban for the Austrian GP as it is their home race, as well as being a well-attended race by the 27-year-old’s Dutch fans. Any penalty at the Red Bull Ring would see Verstappen sit out Red Bull’s other home meet, the British Grand Prix, on July 4-6.

READ MORE: How many penalty points every 2025 F1 driver has, including Max Verstappen

But should Red Bull need to call up a replacement for the Austrian GP or British GP, they will not reach out to Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez about covering for Verstappen. According to the Mirror, Red Bull have no interest in offering either of their ex-drivers a one-off outing.

Red Bull will field one of their other drivers under contract to replace Verstappen if the 27-year-old gets a race ban. So, Liam Lawson could earn another shot in the RB21, rookie Isack Hadjar may come up from Racing Bulls or reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa may get his F1 debut.

Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar would join Red Bull for one race if Max Verstappen gets suspended

Red Bull released Perez from his contract for the 2025 F1 season in December after the 35-year-old cost the Milton Keynes squad the defence of their constructors’ championship title. Red Bull also released Ricciardo from his contract to race for Racing Bulls last September.

Perez is not ready to retire from F1 and is in talks with Alpine, Cadillac and Mercedes about a potential comeback in the 2026 season. Ricciardo is on Cadillac’s radar for 2026, as well, but neither the Australian nor the Mexican is likely to run in Red Bull colours again anytime soon.

Instead, should Verstappen receive a race ban, Red Bull’s plan focuses on Lawson or Hadjar coming up with Iwasa taking their Racing Bulls seat for the Austrian GP or British GP. Hadjar is the second-best performing Red Bull racer in 2025 on 21 points behind Verstappen’s 137.