Following Ricciardo’s elevation to the senior squad, Liam Lawson signed with AlphaTauri as Yuki Tsunoda’s partner in the case that Perez left, serving as a “emergency solution.”
Due to a stunning mid-season collapse in which he failed to qualify for the final round of five races between Monaco and Britain and finished with just five points in the final three races in Singapore, Japan, and Qatar, Perez’s position at Red Bull has been seriously threatened in recent months.
Even though Perez has a contract that runs through the end of 2024, there has been increasing talk in recent weeks that he and Red Bull may part ways at the end of this season, leaving a spot open for newly crowned three-time World Champion Verstappen.
According to earlier this week’s rumors, Perez, 33, might even declare his retirement at the Mexico City Grand Prix, his home event.
When contacted by PlanetF1.com, a person with knowledge of the issue rejected the rumors, calling them “absolutely not happening” and totally incorrect.
But according to a rumor in the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull has already selected Ricciardo to succeed Perez, therefore it is not impossible that Perez will opt to retire.
Red Bull is hoping to have its drivers finish first and second for the first time in the team’s history, therefore Perez is reportedly aware that his future depends on his ability to hold onto second place in the Drivers’ Championship..