Red Bull sacking Sergio Perez will not open the door for Daniel Ricciardo return with Liam Lawson to step up

Just as his demise was foretold long before the axe was swung, Dan Ricciardo’s former Red Bull stablemate Sergio Perez has finally been ousted from the team.

And while speculation had been rife Perez’s woeful F1 form this season could open the door for the Aussie star to return – after he himself was fired in September – it now appears the driver who replaced Ricciardo is set to join Max Vertsappen in Red Bull’s flagship team Oracle.

Liam Lawson has been tipped to drive alongside the four-time and defending champion in 2025 and, as much has F1 fans would love Red Bull to see the error of their ways in ditching Ricciardo, it is more likely another younger driver like Lawson will be given the seat alongside Yuki Tsunonda in the Visa CashApp outfit (Red Bull’s second team).

The 22-year-old Kiwi took over Ricciardo’s spot after the Singapore Grand Prix to drive in 11 races with his best-placed finish being seventh at Abu Dhabi in 2024.

Tsunonda was also considered a strong chance to get a promotion after a strong season where he finished only four spots behind Perez at 12th in the end of year standings.

Perez and Ricciardo were consistent podium finishes but struggled to piece together consistent seasons making their exits this year almost inevitable.

Ricciardo won eight Grands Prix, notably in Monaco and Italy, while Perez won six, including the Azerbaijan GP twice.

With Kiwi Lawson seen as a strong part of the Red Bull franchise’s future, Ricciardo’s best chances of getting back in the driver’s seat in F1 would be with the newest team Cadillac.

It will debut in 2026 and is looking for a lead US driver alongside an experienced driver (which could be Ricciardo).

But Ricciardo said at the weekend he was “done” with the F1 when asked if he would join Cadillac.

A move to Toyota in two different fields of motorsport has not been ruled out by the 35-year-old with reports the Japanese car manufacturing giant is very keen to sign Ricciardo to drive in the Supercars in Australia and NASCAR in the US.

Having Ricciardo drive in the Supercars would be an unbelievable boon for the sport with Supercars chief Shane Howard saying there would be nothing better than seeing Ricciardo burn rubber around Mount Panaroma for the Bathurst 1000.

“I think everyone would welcome Daniel with open arms, absolutely,” Howard said in October after Ricciardo’s F1 exit.

“Would we like to see Daniel Ricciardo in a Supercar? 100 per cent.

“Just imagine if he could be in one of our cars and race in a new street race in Perth, that would be something special wouldn’t it?

“It would be absolutely massive. He is such an incredible driver and such an incredible personality and people just absolutely love him.

“Imagine him racing at Bathurst, wow. That would be very cool indeed.”

Ricciardo said in 2021 he was keen to race at Bathurst one day.

“I need to drive a Supercar around Bathurst,” he said at the time.

“Whether it’s a private test, or the actual race, I do need to do it.”

Perez’s exit caps a tumultuous year for Red Bull.

Both the Mexican and Ricciardo were well-liked by fans something that probably can’t be said for Verstappen.

The Dutch champion was on top early before hitting a form slump mid-season only to charge back to claim the title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a fifth-placed finish last month.

His fourth title win was overshadowed by ugly spats on and off the track with British drivers George Russell and Lando Norris, the latter finished second behind Verstappen.

Norris, along with Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri, helped McLaren seal their first constructor’s championship in a generation by winning the final race of the season at Abu Dhabi. Piastri was tenth.