Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo rubbishes controversial Red Bull strategy

Daniel Ricciardo has rubbished suggestions that Sergio Perez should move aside for his Red Bull teammate at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has rubbished suggestions that Sergio Perez should move aside for Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen if the team requests it.

Verstappen is currently embroiled in a thrilling battle with Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton for the 2021 drivers’ championship.

Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City, the Dutch phenom leads the seven-time world champion by just 12 points.

Catch all the ICC T20 World Cup action live & exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today.

Perez would love nothing more than to win an F1 race in front of his home crowd this weekend, but there remains a lingering possibility that Red Bull could ask the 31-year-old to make way for Verstappen if the teammates find themselves running 1-2.

It would undeniably be a harsh call, but those extra seven points could be the difference between first and second for Verstappen on the drivers’ standings.

But Ricciardo is adamant Perez should refuse to move aside, encouraging the Mexican to ignore such a directive.

“Right now my answer is no, I would not,” he said.

“If it was the last race of the season and that position swap literally meant the world title or not, then maybe that‘s a more complex decision making process.

“But I mean a home win, that‘s like the thing that you dream of as a kid. If obviously you’ve earned it on track, then yeah, I feel like it should be yours for the taking.”

Sergio Perez is driving his maiden season with Red Bull. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Perez, who is currently fourth on the drivers’ standings with 150 points and four podium finishes, refused to speculate on how this weekend’s race will unfold.

“It‘s complicated,” he said. “I don’t see much point in discussing that now.

“I think probably we will see where we are on Saturday (after qualifying) and if it‘s worthwhile having that conversation.

“Right now, there‘s no guarantee that we’re going to be in that position. I think it will be a great problem to have as a team. But right now, we haven’t discussed anything.

“I‘m pretty sure that the whole team, Red Bull, everyone wants me to win this weekend.

“I think everyone is so enthusiastic, everyone at my team, the crowd. You know, it‘s a very special venue for us. And yeah, it’s a very intense fight.”

“If there‘s a race they want me to win, it’s this one, so I am sure I have full support from everyone in my team.”

The Mexican Grand Prix is scheduled to get underway this Monday morning AEDT at 6am.

Originally published as Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo rubbishes controversial Red Bull strategy