Daniel Ricciardo returns to Formula 1 in Hungary, replacing AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries

The team announced on Tuesday that Daniel Ricciardo will return to Formula 1 racing in Hungary, replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri. Here’s what you need to know:

• He will join sister team Red Bull on loan from Red Bull Racing. Ricciardo tested for Red Bull at Silverstone on Tuesday.
• It marks a full-time racing return for Ricciardo, 34, just eight months after he broke ground in McLaren’s last Grand Prix.
• De Vries was dropped after failing to score a point for AlphaTauri this season, recording a best finish of 12th.

the athleteInstant Analysis:

Shock return to Ricciardo

When Ricciardo lost his seat at McLaren at the end of last year, he needed some time to reset it. A bruised two years left him questioning his ability, wondering if he had lost the spark that made him an eight-time Grand Prix winner.

Red Bull, the team with which he enjoyed the peak of his Formula 1 success between 2014 and 2018, made a home as a third driver. Although his primary job was to support Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, the role was an opportunity for him to find his feet again.

when the athlete He spent some time with him over the Australian Grand Prix weekend in April, and it was clear Mojo was coming back. He said that “signs were pointing” towards his desire for F1 to return, encouraged by the progress he was making in the simulation with Red Bull.

But back so soon, and with AlphaTauri, it comes as a big surprise.

Red Bull did little to hide their disappointment in de Vries, who joined AlphaTauri with an impressive resume including titles in both Formula 2 and Formula E. However, his failure to match teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s level of performance or score any points meant rumours. About his future arose as early as Monaco in May.

This came at the same time that Ricciardo was having a fit seat with AlphaTauri, and was intended to give the team an extra replacement reserve driver in case De Vries or Tsunoda were not available to race.

It was never expected that Ricciardo would race AlphaTauri. In Austria, the team’s new CEO, Peter Baer, ​​made it clear that the team’s purpose is to help the next generation of young Red Bull drivers, a mold Ricciardo does not fit at the age of 34. But team boss Franz Tost said performance will be the deciding factor about who gets to race on AlphaTauri next year, and also noticed the lack of top young drivers who could race for the team.

With Red Bull V. de Vries finally running out of patience, the way appeared for Ricciardo’s surprise return. It’s a well-known and quick number that could bring a boost to AlphaTauri amid its slump to the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship this year. The car’s performance means Ricciardo is unlikely to battle at the front, but getting back on the grid puts him on track to one day land on the top seat again. – Smith

What Red Bull and Ricciardo said

“It’s great to see that Daniel hasn’t lost any form while away from racing and that the strides he made in his simulation sessions are translating on the track,” said Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull.

“His times during the tire test were very 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.”

Ricciardo added, “I’m excited to be back on track with the Red Bull family!”

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(Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP)