The charismatic Australian driver returns to the team with which he competed between 2014 and 2017.
It was an open secret and it has already been confirmed: Daniel Ricciardo returns to Red Bull. The Australian driver, after two very unsuccessful years at McLaren, returns to the team with which he landed in Formula 1 and where he came to be considered one of the best drivers on the grid.
When, at the end of 2018, Ricciardo surprised by announcing his departure to Renault after his teammate, Max Verstappen, became Helmut Marko’s protégé, he probably did not imagine how difficult his next stages in F1 were going to be.
Neither at Renault nor at McLaren, despite having achieved a victory with the Woking team and two podiums with the Enstone team, Ricciardo has been the same again. Although he has not lost his smile, the Australian has stopped being at the level of the best and has been constantly surpassed by his teammates, including the young Lando Norris.
After being replaced by McLaren F1 for 2023 by rookie Oscar Piastri, despite still having another year at McLaren, Ricciardo has returned to Red Bull to sit on the bench of the team with which he achieved seven of his eight victories in the F1.
Next year, Ricciardo will be the third driver, which will allow him to help the team by participating in training and simulator tests. Thanks to this, Daniel will continue to be linked to F1 and will try to recover the good rhythm of the past. He will also participate with Red Bull in events.
“The smile says it all,” says Ricciardo about his return to Red Bull F1. “I am very happy to return home as the third driver of the team. I have many memories of my time here and I am very grateful for the welcome that Christian (Horner), Dr. Marko and the rest of the team have given me.”
”This opportunity to work with the best team in F1 is very attractive, at the same time as I work to recharge my batteries and return to the best level. I am looking forward to joining the team and supporting it from the simulator, in training and in commercial activities”, he adds.
Team Principal Christian Horner added: “It’s great that Daniel is back in the Red Bull family. He is extremely talented and is a brilliant character. The whole team is excited about his return home”.
With Ricciardo, Red Bull also ensures a top-level replacement in the event that one of the starting drivers of Red Bull F1 or Alpha Tauri cannot participate in a Grand Prix or leaves the team, either due to lack of results or for other reasons.