Daniel Ricciardo is back on the Formula 1 grid after replacing Nyck De Vries at AlphaTauri for the rest of this season.
The Australian had been left without a seat in 2023 after agreeing to leave his McLaren contract one year early and subsequently joining Red Bull as the third driver.
But on the day Ricciardo returned to the track at Silverstone, driving the RB19 in a Pirelli tyre test, his come back at Red Bull’s sister team, starting at the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 23, was announced.
Almost done, Silverstone ??
We’ve got Daniel driving the RB19 as part of a @pirellisport tyre test ? pic.twitter.com/i4n1SELiIK
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 11, 2023
“It is great to see Daniel hasn’t lost any form while away from racing and that the strides he has been making in his simulator sessions translate on track,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner commented.
“His times during the tyre test were extremely competitive. It was a very impressive drive and we are excited to see what the rest of the season brings for Daniel on loan at Scuderia AlphaTauri.”
As for Ricciardo himself, his reaction was short and sweet, simply stating: “I am stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family!”
Expectations are likely to be low for the 34-year-old’s stint at AlphaTauri, who have struggled towards the back of the grid all season.
However, with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez currently struggling in the midst of a five-race run of failing to make Q3, it is a chance for the ‘Honey Badger’ to show he still has it…
