Craig Slater has the latest on Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the Formula 1 grid, as he replaces Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri for the remainder of the season.
Daniel Ricciardo is set to make a comeback to the Formula 1 grid, this time with AlphaTauri. The 34-year-old Australian has been loaned out by Red Bull, where he served as the third driver, to their junior team for the rest of the season. Ricciardo’s return comes at the expense of Nyck de Vries, who has had a difficult debut season and will now be replaced by the experienced Ricciardo.
The decision to bring Ricciardo to AlphaTauri comes after his impressive performance during a recent tyre test at Silverstone, where he drove Red Bull’s RB19 for the first time. This loan move provides Ricciardo with an opportunity to revive his career after a lackluster stint with Renault and McLaren. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner expressed his excitement about Ricciardo’s return and his potential impact on AlphaTauri’s performance.
Despite AlphaTauri’s current position at the bottom of the constructors’ standings, Ricciardo has decided to seize this opportunity. This move may come as a surprise, considering his previous desire to return to a top-performing team. Ricciardo will make his return at the Hungarian Grand Prix, followed by the Belgian Grand Prix, before the summer break.
De Vries, on the other hand, has had a challenging debut season, currently sitting last in the drivers’ standings without a single point. His only notable performance came last year when he replaced Alex Albon at Williams for the Italian Grand Prix. However, he has struggled to live up to expectations and has been outperformed by his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost expressed his gratitude to De Vries for his contribution and wished him well for the future.
While De Vries’ early exit from his debut season may seem harsh, his recent performances have left little room for improvement. He has consistently qualified and finished in the bottom three in the past three races. Although De Vries has proven to be a capable test or reserve driver, his chances of securing another race seat in the near future appear bleak.
With Ricciardo joining AlphaTauri, there is speculation about the possibility of him staying with the team beyond this season. Ricciardo’s return marks a significant moment in his career, as he aims to regain his form and prove himself once again on the Formula 1 grid.
