David Coulthard warns Sergio Perez Daniel Ricciardo will take job Red Bull if he ‘pulls a sickie’

Formula One legend David Coulthard has warned Sergio Perez that Australian reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo will take his job at Red Bull if he ever ‘gets sick’.

In 2022, Max Verstappen won the drivers’ championship with teammate Perez in third with two race wins, although the relationship between the pair has been strained at times.

Formula One legend David Coulthard has warned Sergio Perez that Australian reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo will take his job at Red Bull if he ever ‘gets sick’.

In 2022, Max Verstappen won the drivers’ championship with teammate Perez in third with two race wins, although the relationship between the pair has been strained at times.

Ricciardo has now assumed the reserve role at his former team and Coulthard believes Perez will need to make some improvements to maintain his place as Verstappen’s right-hand man.

‘Keep a close eye on his [Ricciardo’s] health and fitness’, Coulthard told PlanetF1.com.

Don’t take a sick person somewhere. When I was at McLaren, I spent nine years there and did all the tests and never missed a race, even when I was feeling terrible, even when I was getting out of the car and sick.

Ricciardo has now assumed the reserve role at his former team and Coulthard believes that Perez will need to make some improvements to maintain his place within the team.

‘Because I knew the moment I let the test driver get in the car, it gave him a chance to show how good he was. So I didn’t let him get in the car. He could talk all day, but he couldn’t put a time back. So you have to defend your territory.

“It’s the old Jerry Maguire line: This isn’t showing friends, this is show business.”

Ricciardo is returning to where his F1 career began, recently revealing that he was suffering from burnout and was “glad” no one offered him a starting place on the grid for 2023.

The 33-year-old’s career came to a crossroads after faltering performances with McLaren and Renault before that, before his original team Red Bull came to the rescue.

Max Verstappen is pictured with Sergio Perez of Mexico on the podium during the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 20, 2022 in Abu Dhabi.

Ricciardo will take up a reserve driver role with the manufacturer, sharing the role with young Kiwi Liam Lawson, as well as doing promotional work for Red Bull.

It came after the Australian turned down potential opportunities to race lower-ranked teams such as Haas, Williams and Alfa Romeo, while also being linked to starting positions with Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.

Ricciardo’s move has been criticized by many in the F1 paddock, including former champion Jenson Button, who believed the Australian was risking too much of his future.

Ricciardo pictured celebrating winning the Monaco GP in 2018

Ricciardo has won seven races in five years with Red Bull, and will look to get back to his winning ways if given the chance.