Max Verstappen is happy with either Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo next year

Triple Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has said he would be happy to have either Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo as a teammate next season, which has done nothing to quell speculation about a possible move to Red Bull.

Perez, 33, is under contract until 2024 but his poor form in 2023 compared to Verstappen’s dominance of 16 wins in 19 races has prompted talks over his future.

Experienced Australian Ricciardo, 34, was Verstappen’s team-mate from 2016 to 2018 and is the favorite to replace Perez this season with Alfadouri returning to the Red Bull fold.

Verstappen told reporters at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Interlagos on Thursday that he had a great relationship with both.

„They’ve been great teammates and at the end of the day it’s not up to me to make decisions like that because I’m so focused on my own performance,” he said.

„If it’s Cheko next year, great. I’ve had a great working relationship with him, but personally I think he’s a great guy. If it’s Daniel, we’ll get along and we’ll have a good time.

„F1 can be a tough sport. You ask these kinds of questions, but nothing goes right? We’ll see,” the 26-year-old said.

Ricciardo told reporters Alfadari’s best finish came when he finished seventh in Mexico last Sunday. There are no talks with Red Bull about next season.

Team principal Christian Horner also emphasized that after the Mexico race Perez’s future was no accident As for whether he can finish second in the championship.

Perez is fighting for second overall and is 20 points clear of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with three races remaining. Red Bull have never finished a season with their drivers in one-two positions.

“I have faith in Czecho [Perez] „He can stay ahead because I think we have a faster car on average,” Verstappen said.