Red Bull to hold Ricciardo Lawson test as Perez back-up plan

A key test involving two contenders for Sergio Perez’s Red Bull F1 seat is set to take place next week during a period of uncertainty over the future of the Milton Keynes-based squad’s driver line-up.

Present at the test will be Liam Lawson and Daniel Ricciardo as the team collects information on how the pair shape up in mirroring conditions.

Lawson, who is carrying out reserve driver duties at the Red Bull and RB teams this year, already had a recent test outing after the British Grand Prix, driving the RB20.

However, there was not much time for the New Zealander to show his potential as the test was limited to 200 kilometres as part of F1’s regulations with Verstappen himself also in action.

RacingNews365 understands the 22-year-old will have another opportunity behind the wheel of an F1 car next Wednesday, July 31, at Imola, where Daniel Ricciardo will also be present.

Both competitors will drive the 2022 AlphaTauri AT03, with the test coming at a time when Sergio Perez is struggling for form at Red Bull.

Even though it is not certain that Red Bull will push Perez aside, it does give the team a unique opportunity to see who would be ready to take over the seat, should he be axed. 

Tsunoda also present at Imola

Yuki Tsunoda, Ricciardo’s current RB team-mate who has already been confirmed at the team next year, will also be present at Imola.

The Japanese driver, however, will only complete a filming day in the current RB challenger, rather than the two-year-old car in which Lawson and Ricciardo will be compared. 

It seems Tsunoda is not included on the shortlist of possible replacements for Perez, despite his strong results at RB this year. 

The battle at Imola therefore seems to be mainly between Lawson and Ricciardo, which is set to be crucial even if Red Bull opt to retain Perez going forward.

Lawson has been linked with a full-time F1 drive ever since his positive substitute performances last season, with the possibility existing that he takes over from Ricciardo at the sister RB team.

As other teams have also expressed interest in the services of Lawson, the ‘shoot-out’ at Imola will provide Red Bull with some key data as it mulls over its future driver line-up.