If it’s Checo next year, then you know, great. I have had a great working relationship with him, but also personally, I think he’s a great guy. And if it’s Daniel then also we will get along fine and we have a great time.
“F1 can be a tough sport and, you know, you’re asking these kinds of questions, but maybe also nothing happens right, so we’ll see.”
Verstappen currently has more than twice the number of championship points than Perez, who has racked up two wins among eight podium finishes this season, but also several anonymous performances.
“All the stuff around my contract next year has been related to AlphaTauri”
Since Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri after the British Grand Prix, speculation has grown that he could be promoted back to the senior team sooner rather than later, despite breaking his hand which saw him miss five races.
That was only heightened after Mexico where Ricciardo’s points haul helped lift AlphaTauri from the bottom of the constructors’ table to eight place, estimated to be worth an additional $20m (£16.4m) in prize money.
“All the stuff around my contract next year has been related to AlphaTauri,” said Ricciardo. “I would say that’s honestly as far as that goes, I think.
“For me personally, 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.
“That kind of creates a very happy atmosphere around everyone. So that’s, yeah, kind of happy doing that. And trying to just keep charging on where I am.”
No way through: Verstappen wasn’t prepared to give up sixth place for Perez in Brazil last year
Chris Graythen/Getty via Red Bull
Last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix exposed a rift between Verstappen and Perez when the Dutchman, who had already been crowned world champion, refused to help his team-mate secure second in the drivers’ championship by allowing him past.
Verstappen suggested that he would make the same decision again this year, in the process highlighting why there are doubts over Perez’s future.
“I think at the end of the day, it shouldn’t always matter on me to get the points,” he said. “But I’m confident in Checo that, you know, he can stay ahead because I do think that on average we have the faster car.”