Post-race Ricciardo footage ignites F1 rumour mill as Aussie all smiles with Red Bull

Post-race footage of Daniel Ricciardo chatting with Christian Horner, before jumping in a helicopter with Max Verstappen, has raised eyebrows with a decision on his Red Bull future imminent.

Daniel Ricciardo and Christian Horner

Post-race footage of Daniel Ricciardo chatting with Christian Horner, before jumping in a helicopter with Max Verstappen, has raised eyebrows with a decision on his Red Bull future imminent.

Red Bull incumbent Sergio Perez once again struggled, finishing eighth at the Belgium Grand Prix to head into the mid-season break with his position dangling by a thread.

It’s believed that Perez could be replaced by either Ricciardo or New Zealand’s Liam Lawson during the break, with Red Bull set to sit down for talks on Monday.

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Daniel Ricciardo was seen talking to Christian Horner and Laurent Mekies after the race

[@DAZN_ES] pic.twitter.com/iQhwIbvzZg

— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) July 28, 2024

However, footage after the Belgian Grand Prix, captured by DAZN, has led to speculation that Ricciardo might have already been given the nod.

In the footage, Ricciardo is seen in lengthy conversation with Red Bull team boss Horner, and his VCARB counterpart Laurent Mekies.

The discussion looks to be in good nature, and ends with a warm handshake between Ricciardo and Horner, before the former happily skips away with a smile on his face.

Only adding further fuel to the fire was a second video posted by Verstappen, in which he left Spa in a helicopter with Ricciardo.

Again, Ricciardo appears to be in good spirits in the video while Verstappen offers both thumbs up for the camera.

Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo leaving SPA together in a heli. Tomorrow there is an important meeting between Helmut Marko and Christian Horner about Checo's future.

Is this just a coincidence, or is this the new RBR lineup from Zandvoort onwards? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/e7Eot775bY

— Marc | Formula 1 🏎 (@433_marc) July 28, 2024

The footage emerged as a three-word answer from Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko made it abundantly clear just how tenuous Perez’s hold on his seat has become.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Marko, was in no mood to protect the struggling driver.

Asked if Red Bull will discuss its future driver line-up this week, Marko coldly replied: “Yes, we will.”

While Ricciardo has not set the grid alight in 2024, he has made some big gains over the course of the season, and has found some crucial momentum at the right time.

The Australian certainly did his case no harm in Belgium, securing another championship point for VCARB by finishing 10th following George Russell’s disqualification.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda finished 16th, making it the fourth time in the past six races that he’s been outdriven by Ricciardo.

“I think, in short, from Montreal I had some work to do,” Ricciardo told Sky Sports. “We picked it up.

“I’d say Silverstone was maybe the only outlier, otherwise I’ve been really happy with how things have gone.

“Of course I would’ve loved the whole season to have been awesome, but if it starts slow, try to finish strong, and that’s where I’m at coming into the break — much more fulfilled, content.”

Originally published as Post-race Ricciardo footage ignites F1 rumour mill as Aussie all smiles with Red Bull