Daniel Ricciardo Opens Up on Intense Battle to Replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull Amid Summer Speculations

Daniel Ricciardo provides insight into the fierce competition to take Sergio Perez's spot at Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo addresses rumors about a potential mid-season switch to Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo has spoken candidly about the constant stress of worrying about losing his F1 seat and the fight to take Sergio Perez’s spot.

The pressure on Red Bull driver Perez has intensified, even though he secured a new contract earlier this year, following a string of lackluster performances.

This weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix in Formula 1 is Daniel Ricciardo's last opportunity to showcase his skills and persuade Red Bull to consider a driver swap during the summer break.

When asked about capitalizing on Perez's difficulties at the Hungaroring, Ricciardo remarked to Crash.net, who are present in the paddock, that the level of pressure on drivers often depends on media portrayal. He added that, in reality, all drivers face pressure.

“Even the top performers face pressure to maintain their success. My point is, we all experience this pressure."

"Clearly, I've received a lot of attention this year, and Checo is also in the limelight."

"Despite having a strong performance in Montreal, I reminded myself that I needed another solid race because you're only as good as your most recent outing. A single successful weekend offers only a brief reprieve, as things can shift rapidly."

“Absolutely, I am aware of the statistics. Max Verstappen has accumulated significantly more points than Checo.”

"Naturally, they do anticipate a little extra from us. This is the nature of the sport we're involved in, and we experience this constantly."

"It's simply about who is getting attention this week. Yes, it’s our job to try to ignore it, but it's challenging."

"At times, when people constantly inquire about 'do you have this or that,' it can come across as quite negative or overwhelming."

"From what I've seen, and including Checo since he's had a similar tenure in Formula 1, we've handled it enough to know that the key is to concentrate on the engineering and car setup. While you hear the rest, you just have to go with the flow."

Ricciardo discusses the challenge of dealing with "constant" speculation.

If Red Bull decides to substitute Perez, their most probable midseason replacements would likely be chosen from within their existing program, which features the RB team.

Backup driver Liam Lawson might be considered, along with Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.

Ricciardo was questioned about the potential oddity of a non-Red Bull driver being placed in Formula 1’s most desirable vehicle.

"I'm not sure," he responded. "I suppose it varies depending on who the stranger is."

"I may not be new to this anymore, but I understand the process well and focus on achieving results."

"If we perform adequately, we position ourselves favorably. Should any changes occur, we maintain control over the outcomes."

“There are numerous events occurring in Formula 1, but ultimately, our actions while driving and the times recorded by the stopwatch are within our control.”

“Focus on managing what you can influence. In this scenario, we have significant control over many aspects.”

Ricciardo started this season as the leading contender to take Perez's place in 2025.

Due to his lackluster performance and multiple top-three finishes by Perez, Red Bull decided to offer the Mexican driver a new contract.

However, Perez's performance has declined recently, whereas Ricciardo has regained attention in the last four races.

He acknowledges that it can be challenging to face inquiries about job loss.

“It can seem never-ending, and I definitely went through that somewhat at McLaren,” he remarked.

"These media briefings aren't particularly pleasant. So, claiming that they don't get to you would be dishonest."

"You need to acknowledge it and figure out how to handle the situation. It's a part of the process. I aim to rise above it by remembering that I chose this path. I'm striving to be the best globally, and sometimes I'll likely fail, which brings these challenges with it."

"You create your own situation and sometimes you have to accept it, even if everything isn't perfect."

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