SAO PAULO – Veteran drivers Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo denied on Thursday that they were about to leave their teams to join Red Bull next season.
Two-time world champion Alonso, 42, angrily hit out at claims he will depart the Aston Martin team to take Sergio Perez’s seat alongside world champion Max Verstappen.
He dismissed the speculation as “the normal paddock rumours from people who try to make fun of it and gain some followers (on social media)”. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, he added: “I will make sure there are consequences.”
Asked to elaborate, the Spaniard was advised by a team representative not to go any further.
Alonso started the season with three straight podiums and six top-three finishes in the first eight races, but Aston Martin’s form has tailed off. He has not finished higher than sixth in his last six races.
Ricciardo, 34, also rejected widespread reports that he is poised to replace Perez and stressed that he is happy to be back racing in Formula One with AlphaTauri.
The Australian, who finished a rousing seventh in last Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix after qualifying fourth, said he was focused only on AlphaTauri and maintaining improved form.
“All the stuff around my contract next year has been related to AlphaTauri – I would say that’s, honestly, as far as that goes,” he said.
His strong performance at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was the team’s best of the season and lifted AlphaTauri from 10th to eighth in the constructors’ championship.
“Having a weekend like Mexico is just definitely good for the soul. And, also, for the team. I haven’t been here long, but for them to be 10th in the constructors and to jump two places in the space of two weekends was huge,” he said.
“I think that creates a very happy atmosphere around everyone. I’m happy doing that and I’ll try to just keep charging on where I am.”
His return to form after recovering from a broken hand prompted speculation that he would be promoted from Red Bull’s junior team to their senior outfit. But Red Bull team chief Christian Horner has maintained his faith in the struggling Perez, who crashed out of last Sunday’s race at the first corner, and said the team will help him regain his confidence.
Newly crowned three-time world champion Max Verstappen, who won in Mexico, raced alongside Ricciardo in the Red Bull team for two seasons from 2016 to 2018.
He said he had not had any conversations about a change of teammate, but added that he had enjoyed his relationship with both Perez and Ricciardo.
“I always had a great relationship with Daniel when we were teammates and I also have one with Checo, so it’s unfair to say who I would prefer,” he said.
“It isn’t up to me to make these decisions because I am very focused on my own performance.” AFP, REUTERS
