There are some very interesting, but wild theories popping up already:
https://apple.news/AZIJcW9tzSauJwwhCux3W1Q
And Ricciardo?
Do not underestimate the strength of the affection the team – particularly Horner – has for him after all they achieved together the first time around and all the time and effort spent getting him back into shape following his departure from McLaren two years ago.
He has disappointed since his return last year, yet his strongest – and most relevant – performance since 2022 came not in a qualifying session or race for AlphaTauri/VCARB, but in the Pirelli tyre test he spent behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB19 at Silverstone last July.
That his fastest lap would have been good enough for second on the grid for the British Grand Prix two days earlier only supported the theory, stretching all the way back to when he emerged out of nowhere to run Sebastian Vettel out of town in 2014, that Ricciardo only excels in good, well-balanced cars with lots of downforce.
Enough to unlock the Daniel of old, all smiles ‘n’ shoeys on the top step of the podium? Perhaps not. Not at this advanced stage of his career.
But certainly enough for him to act as a very competent wingman to Verstappen – and without the wild fluctuations of Perez, back to his anonymous worst in Singapore after showing signs of life in Baku.
So how’s this for a season-ending scenario?
Ricciardo sits out the next three races, getting all the VCARB out of his system with some work away from the spotlight in the Red Bull simulator, and maybe even a TPC test or two, before stepping into Perez’s car for the final three races when the Mexican GP is over and done with.
With the Constructors’ Championship likely to have all but gone to McLaren by then, both team and driver will have nothing left to lose.
If it works out, Red Bull have a ready-made replacement for Perez for F1 2025.
And if it doesn’t? Daniel can finally walk away from F1 safe in the knowledge that he was given the opportunity he always craved back in a Red Bull and failed to make the most of it.
With a guard of honour waiting for him in the paddock after the race, Singapore may have looked for all the world like the end of the road for Ricciardo.
