Daniel Ricciardo has been told he will be in 'good shape to challenge for Sergio Perez's seat' next year if he can prevent AlphaTauri from finishing last in the constructors' championship.
Ricciardo is back on the grid after joining AlphaTauri for the remainder of the season. The Australian has been Red Bull's third driver this season after parting ways with McLaren, but has now been loaned to their sister team AlphaTauri after Nyck de Vries was axed.
De Vries joined AlphaTauri after impressing in his F1 debut for Williams last year, finishing ninth at the Italian Grand Prix after Alex Albon could not race due to appendicitis. However, the Dutchman has struggled this year, failing to pick up a single point and he has now been released after just ten races.
