Mexico Grand Prix, F1 news: Daniel Ricciardo pressures Red Bull’s Sergio Perez with strong result

The F1 rumour mill has gone into overdrive as the end of the season looms - and talk turns to the driver moves planned for next year. And Daniel Ricciardo’s name is in the thick of everything.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – OCTOBER 29: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Scuderia AlphaTauri looks on from inside the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Will it be the race that ultimately ends Sergio Perez’s Red Bull career and reinstalls Daniel Ricciardo as Max Verstappen’s teammate?

Only time will tell – but it could not have gone any worse for the under-fire Mexican driver at his home Grand Prix on Monday morning.

Perez’s decision to dive down the outside of pole sitter Charles Leclerc in the rundown to turn one could prove the death blow to his run at Red Bull.

Rather than take an unlikely lead in Mexico City, ‘Checo’ instead crashed out at the first corner – ending his race before it had even begun.

Gasps rippled around the crowd as it became apparent Perez – the man whom the majority of fans came to watch – was out of the race in the opening seconds.

But that was only the beginning of his downfall.

Red Bull Racing's Mexican driver Sergio Perez (R) goes flying in a race-ending crash. Picture: Getty

Compounding Perez’s misfortune were the races of Lewis Hamilton and Ricciardo, who combined to mount even more pressure on the Red Bull driver.

In just his second race returned from a broken hand, Ricciardo converted his stunning qualifying pace into a season-best finish for AlphaTauri that – should the team hold on to eighth for the end of the season – will hand it an extra $USD20 million ($A32m).

Hamilton crossed the line runner-up to Max Verstappen and cut the gap to Perez to just 20 points in the Drivers’ Standings.

The seven-time world champion is suddenly on the rear wing of Perez in the race for second with three races left to run.

If Hamilton had not been disqualified in Austin he would be even closer.

Daniel Ricciardo’s career revival could push him back into the arms of Red Bull. Picture: Getty

Given Red Bull’s complete dominance this season – highlighted by Verstappen’s 16 race victories and counting – that Perez is under threat from Hamilton is considered by many as an indictment on the Mexican driver’s season.

But perhaps even worse for Perez was the form of Ricciardo, who put the Mexican on notice when he out-qualified him in a much slower AlphaTauri on Sunday morning.

Ricciardo started fourth on the grid with Perez fifth and all eyes were on the two drivers who are now publicly vying to be Verstappen’s teammate next season.

Ricciardo may have dropped down the order during the race but he still finished seventh – the best result for AlphaTuari this season – while Perez crashed out.

After consecutive trips to the podium in Mexico, Perez had built up his homecoming as an opportunity to rediscover his form.

Sergio Perez couldn’t have had a worse day at the Mexico Grand Prix. Picture: Getty

Instead, the Mexico City circuit so close to his heart could prove to be the battleground for his Red Bull downfall.

Adding to the noise was the praise Red Bull boss Christian Horner levelled at Ricciardo’s after the race.

“You couldn’t fail to be impressed by Daniel this weekend,” Horner said.

“His qualifying was outstanding yesterday and he showed his maturity and experience – and pace – in the race.

“I think that fighting a Mercedes (George Russell) in an AlphaTauri for their best result of the year was a great performance and had it not been for the red flag he might have finished even further up.

“So he can take a lot of confidence coming back from injury. He’s had a rough time over the last couple of months having to sit on the sidelines, but that’s the Daniel we’re used to seeing.

“His confidence is coming up – Checo, we just need him to have a confidence boosting result. He could have had it today, but it wasn’t to be.

“It’s great to see Daniel looking like his old self.”

With three races left to go this season, the magnifying glass is now well and truly aimed at Perez and his would-be successor Ricciardo.