On Tuesday morning, AlphaTauri announced that not only was Nyck de Vries OUT after just 11 total F1 races, 10 of which with the team, but Daniel Ricciardo was now IN. There were rumors being circulated that this could happen, but for it to happen this soon was in some way, stunning.

We knew the team wasn’t as high on de Vries as they initially were. Helmut Marko wanted him over Ricciardo initially. So, after an impressive 9th place finish in last year’s Italian Grand Prix in which de Vries subbed for Alex Albon, it solidified Red Bull’s approach.

However, they felt like he wasn’t getting the job done and didn’t give him much time to learn. So, off he goes and in comes Ricciardo.

This move is ripe with ripple effects in tow.

Despite de Vries’ initial struggles, the car however isn’t necessarily a good one either. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda has a pair of 10th place finishes as his best results giving the constructor a mere two points for the season.

So, Ricciardo has his work cut out for him because while he’d love to be on the grid full time in 2024, he’d honestly rather it be for Red Bull instead of their junior outfit.

Which is why this creates ripple effects. What if Ricciardo is too rusty and can’t get much out of this car. Is it him or the car? Does it cost him a ride at Red Bull and does it cost him a future in general with this team too?

If he performs, then Sergio Perez better watch out. The team has stuck with him and defended him, but just look at what they did to a rookie in only his 10th start with them. They can change their tune quickly.

For Perez, his teammate Max Verstappen, has won every race since May 7 (6 straight). Sergio Perez has looked pedestrian in that span finishing 2nd, 16th, 4th, 6th, 3rd and 6th respectively. The points gap between them now is up to 99. With 12 races left, Verstappen doesn’t have to win another race and he can still take home the title.

That’s because Perez has been terrible on Saturday’s.

For the fifth consecutive race, Sergio Perez failed to make Q3. For the fifth straight race, his teammate was on the pole. You’ve got to think the top brass at Red Bull is growing tired of Perez’ antics by missing out on the final round…again.

2 podiums in 6 races.

Prior to that, he had 4 top 2 finishes in 5 races and held Verstappen in check for this year’s championship. Now, he’s in a fight for second in leading Fernando Alonso by just 19 points.

If he continues to struggle and Ricciardo shines, does that equal Perez being left out?

No matter the scenario, does this open a seat with AlphaTauri for current NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou. Word is the Red Bull brass is impressed with him and word also is that Palou is looking overseas still.

Let’s be honest, the only reason he’s leaving a team like Chip Ganassi Racing over here is because he has F1 endeavors and Arrow McLaren can offer that to him. However, both of the McLaren drivers are young and they’re coming off of a great weekend in England.

However, this could create a path now for Palou.

“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know,” Palou said a few weeks ago on his future plans. “But, yeah, that day will come. That day will come maybe two months, three, four. I don’t know. Maybe once the season is over, maybe later. We’ll see.

“Yeah, that day will come. It will be exciting, I guess.”

Norris is clearly frustrated with McLaren and you can judge that by his words.

“They put me on Hard tires, I don’t know why, they’re still beginners in some things,” Norris said on Sunday. He also has made mention that they struggle to get his car right for him.

If he shines, Perez falters and Ricciardo doesn’t stand out, does Norris get bought out by Red Bull and Palou moved over to McLaren’s F1 team?

What if Norris stays as he just signed a new deal anyways recently, Ricciardo shines and takes Perez’ seat. Palou could go to AlphaTauri. Then you have the Perez is safe, Norris stays with McLaren and Ricciardo doesn’t stand out. Palou could take Ricciardo’s seat then too.

He has the Superlicense points, has the talent and has the wherewithal to contend for either one of the seats. He also doesn’t care if it’s a top team or a midfield team in F1, he just wants to have a chance to race there.

“I mean, I would say it’s a different feeling obviously,” he says. “Obviously everybody wants to win whatever sport you are. You know that in F1 basically you need to be in one or maximum two teams to be able to win, otherwise you’re fighting just for points or P15, whatever.

“It’s a different mindset. I would just say that the beauty of INDYCAR is that everybody can win because you have the same tools as everybody. In F1, maybe the beauty, it’s different. It’s just that you are in the pinnacle of motorsport, you’re developing a car together with a big factory. It’s just a different mentality, I would say.

“I wouldn’t say one there’s more satisfaction than the other. Obviously the best is to try to win every weekend. That’s how you get happier and more satisfaction. As you said, everybody knows in F1 it’s not possible for everybody.”

If Palou isn’t part of McLaren’s future and ends up in a Red Bull contract, that could allow Ganassi to move Marcus Ericsson over to the 10 seat and have a pay driver for the 8. It could in theory also allow Felix Rosenqvist to stay put in his No. 6 ride or it could allow Zak Brown to sign Ericsson or anyone else he chooses.

de Vries could all but certainly end up over here in INDYCAR too.

Which is why this one move, could create more questions than answers at the moment.