A shock return to Formula One has been made by Daniel Ricciardo as he replaces Nyck de Vries at Red Bull’s second team, AlphaTauri, for the remainder of the season, according to ESPN.
Ricciardo, who took a break from racing this year as Red Bull’s third driver, will make his comeback at the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 23.
In a previous interview with ESPN, the eight-time race winner expressed his desire for a “fairytale” ending to his F1 career, which would involve a return to the Red Bull team he left in 2018.
Joining the secondary outfit puts him in a position to potentially achieve his dream in the future, while also adding pressure on underperforming Sergio Perez at Red Bull.
Sources have revealed to ESPN that Ricciardo is willing to drive for AlphaTauri for as long as necessary in order to demonstrate that he has overcome the difficulties he faced at McLaren in 2021 and 2022.
The news of Ricciardo’s return was confirmed during a tyre test for Red Bull at Silverstone. His impressive performance during the session played a significant role in sealing the deal.
Christian Horner, the boss of Red Bull, praised Ricciardo’s form and emphasized his anticipation for the remainder of the season: “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 sim sessions translate on track. 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.”
De Vries’ departure from AlphaTauri seemed inevitable due to his ongoing struggles and the public criticisms from Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko.
Marko acknowledged Horner’s reservations about De Vries’ suitability for the company’s F1 program, further supporting the decision to part ways with him.
Last year, De Vries, who previously won titles in Formula 2 and Formula E, impressed during his F1 debut for Williams at the Italian Grand Prix, where he scored points as a substitute for the unwell Alexander Albon.
However, he has been unable to replicate that level of performance in 2023.
Ricciardo’s return brings him back to the team he raced for in 2012 and 2013 when it was known as Toro Rosso. His standout performances during that period earned him a promotion to Red Bull in 2014, which marked the beginning of a breakthrough season with three F1 victories.
