Nonetheless, a recent report by German publication Auto Motor und Sport suggests that Perez’s departure is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Red Bull, it appears, has already considered Daniel Ricciardo as a potential replacement for Perez in the event of such a development.
The future, however, largely hinges on Perez’s ability to maintain his hold on second place in the Drivers’ Championship, a position he currently enjoys with a 30-point lead over Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton with five rounds remaining in the season. The report suggests that Perez “knows that he will have a problem if he can’t hold on to second place in the Championship, contract or no contract.”
