Daniel Ricciardo back on Formula 1 grid with AlphaTauri
Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is set to make a triumphant return to the grid, earning a second chance within the Red Bull family after being loaned out to AlphaTauri.
Ricciardo will take over the seat previously held by Nyck de Vries, who has been dismissed after participating in only 10 races. His comeback race will take place in Hungary on July 23.
With Oscar Piastri at McLaren, this development marks the first time since the early 2010s that Australia has had two active Formula 1 drivers.
During that period, Ricciardo was making his mark in the sport while Mark Webber was concluding his career.
Just this week, Ricciardo had the opportunity to drive this year’s Red Bull car during a tire test at Silverstone, which followed Max Verstappen’s victory in the British Grand Prix.
Ricciardo’s impressive performance in the test would have placed him on the front row of the starting grid had he been competing.
De Vries, who is 28 years old and the 2019 Formula 2 champion, joined the Formula 1 grid midway through the 2022 season, replacing the unwell Alex Albon and securing points on his debut for Williams.
This performance earned him a seat at AlphaTauri for the 2023 season, alongside Yuki Tsunoda, replacing Pierre Gasly.
However, De Vries has struggled throughout the season, currently sitting at the bottom of the driver’s standings as one of only two drivers without a single point, alongside Williams’ rookie Logan Sargeant. De Vries has managed to finish above 14th place only once, achieving a 12th place finish in Monaco.
Ricciardo had various options available to him after being let go by McLaren midway through the 2022 season, including a move to Haas. However, he made the decision to become a reserve driver for Red Bull, returning to the team that initially brought him into Formula 1.
He impressed the team behind the scenes with his attitude and performance on the simulator.
This move signifies Ricciardo’s return to Red Bull’s secondary team, as he previously served as a test driver for its predecessor Toro Rosso in 2011. He then made his debut halfway through that year with Hispania/HRT before securing a full-time drive for the 2012 season. After two years, he was promoted to Red Bull, replacing Mark Webber.
