Max Verstappen happy with Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo next year

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen said he would be happy to have Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo as his teammate next season, in comments that did nothing to curb speculation about a possible switch at Red Bull.

Perez, 33, has a contract for 2024, but his poor form compared to Verstappen’s dominance with 16 wins from 19 races in 2023 has fueled talk about his future.

Experienced Australian Ricciardo, 34, was Verstappen’s teammate from 2016 to 2018 and his return to the Red Bull fold with AlphaTauri this season leaves him as favorite to replace Perez.

Verstappen told reporters at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos on Thursday that he had excellent relations with both.

“They’ve been great teammates and it’s not ultimately up to me to make those kinds of decisions because I’m very focused on my own performance,” he said.

“So if it’s Checo next year, then great. I’ve had a great working relationship with him but also personally I think he’s a great guy. And if it’s Daniel, then we we will get along well and have a good time.

“F1 can be a difficult sport. You ask these kinds of questions but maybe nothing happens, right? We’ll see,” added the 26-year-old.

Ricciardo, who achieved AlphaTauri’s best result of the season by finishing seventh in Mexico last Sunday, told reporters there had been no discussions with Red Bull regarding next season.

“Everything about my contract next year is linked to AlphaTauri. Honestly, I would say it stops there,” he added.

Team boss Christian Horner also insisted after the Mexico race that Pérez’s future did not depend on his ability to secure second place in the championship.

Perez is fighting for second place in the overall standings and is 20 points ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with three races remaining. Red Bull has never finished a season with its drivers double in the standings.

“I have confidence in Checo [Perez] that he can stay in front, because I think on average we have the fastest car,” Verstappen said.