Daniel Ricciardo has returned to the cockpit of a current Red Bull Formula 1 car for the first time since he left the team five years ago.
The nine-times grand prix winner, who scored all bar one of his F1 victories for the team, is driving for them in a Pirelli tyre test at Silverstone today.Ricciardo was a product of Red Bull’s Junior Team and raced for Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) before his promotion to the senior team in 2014. After leaving them he spent two years at Renault and a further two at McLaren.
His return to Red Bull as a reserve and test driver this year came about after McLaren cut short his three-year deal to drive for them following two largely disappointing seasons. Ricciardo’s first run in the team’s dominant RB19 will complement his ongoing work in the team’s simulator.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is keen to evaluate his former driver’s performance following his return.
“It’s an important test for Pirelli but it’s also going to be great to see him back in a Red Bull car and seeing where he’s at both on pace and mentally, physically and to get his feedback on this car as well. It’s a good opportunity for him to get back behind the wheel of a car that’s just won the British Grand Prix.”
While Max Verstappen is enjoying a dominant run in the team’s RB19 and has won the last six races in a row, team mate Sergio Perez is enduring a poor run. He hasn’t qualified inside the top 10 for any of the last five grands prix.
Perez is contracted to drive for the team until the end of next year and Horner dismissed speculation Ricciardo is being lined up for a full-time drive.
“It’s not something that we’re planning, that’s for certain,” he said. “It was right to give him the opportunity this year to remain within the team and keep him around the sport, I think it would have been a loss to the sport for him just to disappear. I didn’t recognise the Daniel of the last couple of years. So I’ll be very interested to see what kind of job he does on Tuesday.”
Nico Hulkenberg is also partincipating in the Pirelli tyre test. The Haas driver finished 13th in last weekend’s British GP.
Pictures: Red Bull’s Pirelli test with Ricciardo
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Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
11th July 2023, 12:46
Does Dani participating in this test extend his hold on the number 3? Or is that determined based on official FIA Formula 1 World Championship event sessions only?
Joe (@jb784)
11th July 2023, 12:52
Good question. I believe tests don’t count; he must appear in a race to hold onto the number.
“A permanent number can only be reallocated if the driver associated with that number has not participated in a race for two entire consecutive season.”
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
11th July 2023, 13:02
Thanks! 👍
Jere (@jerejj)
11th July 2023, 12:57
@proesterchen @jb784 Indeed only in racing conditions.
Joe (@jb784)
11th July 2023, 12:51
Good question. I believe tests don’t count; he must appear in a race to hold onto the number.
“A permanent number can only be reallocated if the driver associated with that number has not participated in a race for two entire consecutive season.”
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
11th July 2023, 13:14
Thanks 👍
CarWars (@maxv)
11th July 2023, 13:57
not planned but the shoe-in after the summer break if he gets decent times
CarWars (@maxv)
11th July 2023, 15:11
He is officially replacing deVries..
baasbas
11th July 2023, 14:00
public service announcement:
This is NOT meant to put pressure on Perez!
I repeat, this is NOT meant to put pressure on Perez!
baasbas
11th July 2023, 14:29
You see, it was not to put pressure on Perez.. who sighs of relief…
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
11th July 2023, 19:04
He’s the one who insisted on wanting to be pressured: horner said he will now have the pressure off when he was quite behind verstappen in points, but perez said he’s not gonna let pressure off and this is the result.
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
11th July 2023, 14:16
With Erik van Haren (Telegraaf) reporting that Nyck was just fired from AlphaTauri with immediate effect to be replaced by Danny Rick, I think Perez is pretty much set to be replaced after this season, rather than during it.
Makes sense, it gives Ricciardo some time to get back into things before coming back to Red Bull and helps prevent some nasty lawsuits with Carlos Slim and co. Plus Perez could still get them the 1-2 in the WDC they want if he steps it up a bit over the rest of the season. Replacing him now would be definitely losing that prospect.
MichaelN
11th July 2023, 15:23
In case there was any doubt, that also confirms Frans “you need three seasons in F1” Tost wasn’t allowed to say the obvious. Honda is forcing them to race Tsunoda.
Quite ironic too that the only team allowed to fueld four cars only has one they care about, one for the token engine partner representation, and two for older drivers dropped by their previous teams.
SteveP
11th July 2023, 19:41
Clearly no one forcing them to race De Vries.
Todfod (@todfod)
11th July 2023, 15:10
Google translating from Horner language to English – “We’ve already offered him a contract for that 2nd seat, so time to get him race ready”
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
11th July 2023, 19:06
Ahah, that’s a good one because it’s probably true!
SteveP
11th July 2023, 19:44
So, you reckon DR’s contract with AlphaTauri is a half season?
Wouldn’t upset Tost somewhat?
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
11th July 2023, 20:04
Tost is retiring after this season so even if he cared before, he wouldn’t now.
But other than that, I don’t think he would have minded, the purpose of his team has always been to take the reserve allotment from Red Bull.
bosyber (@bosyber)
12th July 2023, 12:50
So yeah, indeed @totfod, not even a day between that and de Vries being replaced by Ricciardo