Christian Horner not ‘surprised’ by Daniel Ricciardo return rumours – but he may face Sergio Perez battle
Christian Horner has told talkSPORT he can see Daniel Ricciardo returning to Formula 1 – but he may have to compete with Sergio Perez. Perez was cut from Horner’s Formula 1 team on Wednesday, being replaced by Liam Lawson. Horner joined talkSPORT Driving to discuss the recent F1 seasontalkSPORT Chat soon turned to Perez and RicciardoGetty The decision has come two years before the end of Perez’s contract after the Mexican reached a termination agreement with the team. Lawson had stepped in for Ricciardo, who was released by RB following the Singapore Grand Prix, racing at the following United States Grand Prix onward. While Lawson will now partner world champion Max Verstappen from 2025, Perez and Ricciardo are without teams. Ricciardo had been tipped for a return with potential F1 newbies Cadillac, who want to be on the circuit by 2026. Horner joined talkSPORT Driving and was asked about the possible arrival of Cadillac and how that will affect his side’s prep for the new season. “It doesn’t change anything really for us,” he said. “We just focus on ourselves. “It means that some of the paddocks will be a little busier with an 11th team in 2026. But for us, it’s business as normal. “There’s nothing, they’ve got their own mountain to climb. We’re focused on making sure that we’re staying at the top of ours.” And when asked if Ricciardo could make a return with Cadillac as has been suggested, Horner said he wouldn’t be surprised. But he thinks another former Red Bull star could be in the running too – Perez. Ricciardo recently suggested he isn’t keen on an F1 return with Cadillac or any teamGetty “There are rumours,” he said. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised even if they went for the experience of somebody like Sergio and if he decides he wants to continue his career in Formula 1.” Ricciardo was dropped by Red Bull in September with Horner later citing a ‘lack of consistency’. At the time, he had scored ten fewer points than his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who most had expected the Australian to outperform. Perez, meanwhile, ended the 2024 season in awful form, earning just 21 points across ten rounds. Having won five Grand Prix in his previous three campaigns, the 34-year-old trailed champion Verstappen by a staggering 285 points. That ultimately cost Red Bull the chance to defend their constructors crown, with McLaren winning instead. Asked who Verstappen’s biggest challenge is for the new season, Horner said: “I would say McLaren drivers.”
Christian Horner has told talkSPORT he can see Daniel Ricciardo returning to Formula 1 – but he may have to compete with Sergio Perez.
Perez was cut from Horner’s Formula 1 team on Wednesday, being replaced by Liam Lawson.
The decision has come two years before the end of Perez’s contract after the Mexican reached a termination agreement with the team.
Lawson had stepped in for Ricciardo, who was released by RB following the Singapore Grand Prix, racing at the following United States Grand Prix onward.
While Lawson will now partner world champion Max Verstappen from 2025, Perez and Ricciardo are without teams.
Ricciardo had been tipped for a return with potential F1 newbies Cadillac, who want to be on the circuit by 2026.
Horner joined talkSPORT Driving and was asked about the possible arrival of Cadillac and how that will affect his side’s prep for the new season.
“It doesn’t change anything really for us,” he said. “We just focus on ourselves.
“It means that some of the paddocks will be a little busier with an 11th team in 2026. But for us, it’s business as normal.
“There’s nothing, they’ve got their own mountain to climb. We’re focused on making sure that we’re staying at the top of ours.”
And when asked if Ricciardo could make a return with Cadillac as has been suggested, Horner said he wouldn’t be surprised.
But he thinks another former Red Bull star could be in the running too – Perez.
“There are rumours,” he said. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
“I wouldn’t be at all surprised even if they went for the experience of somebody like Sergio and if he decides he wants to continue his career in Formula 1.”
Ricciardo was dropped by Red Bull in September with Horner later citing a ‘lack of consistency’.
At the time, he had scored ten fewer points than his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who most had expected the Australian to outperform.
Perez, meanwhile, ended the 2024 season in awful form, earning just 21 points across ten rounds.
Having won five Grand Prix in his previous three campaigns, the 34-year-old trailed champion Verstappen by a staggering 285 points.
That ultimately cost Red Bull the chance to defend their constructors crown, with McLaren winning instead.
Asked who Verstappen’s biggest challenge is for the new season, Horner said: “I would say McLaren drivers.”
