F1 2023: Daniel Ricciardo could return to track this year for Alpha Tauri

Daniel Ricciardo may be back on the F1 track sooner than you think, as a potential opening on a struggling team emerges. See the details here.

Daniel Ricciardo could find himself back on the F1 track far sooner than anticipated amid rumours he will be brought in as a mid-season replacement at Alpha Tauri.

Rookie Nyck de Vries has endured a pitiful 2023 campaign so far and Ricciardo’s recent visit to the team’s Italy-based factory for a seat fitting has fueled speculation the young Dutchman is set to be dumped.

Reports in Italy suggest that Red Bull top dog Helmut Marko has issued an ultimatum to the 28-year-old to pick himself up or face the chop by June meaning he has three races to save his seat.

If there is no improvement after the forthcoming European triple header of – Italy, Monaco and Spain - Ricciardo would be the obvious choice.

Daniel Ricciardo wants to get back on the F1 track. Picture: Getty Images

While the Aussie’s visit to Italy was nothing out of the ordinary given his reserve driver role with Red Bull which also extends to sister team Alpha Tauri so the seat fitting was necessary in that respect, the rumour mill has certainly gone into overdrive.

De Vries is yet to score a single point this season with 14th his best result (Bahrain and Saudi). He has been involved in numerous collisions which ended his campaigns in Australia and Baku and last weekend he could only manage 18th in Miami.

Alpha Tauri certainly won’t be Ricciardo’s long-term choice but the opportunity to show the rest of the grid what he is capable of is a golden ticket to securing the coveted drive he is craving for 2024.

Earlier this week it was confirmed that Ricciardo will complete a Pirelli tyre test for Red Bull at Silverstone in July.

“I’ve been in the simulator, but I will drive the RB19 in July after the Silverstone race – I’m getting a Pirelli test,” Ricciardo told ESPN.

“Then maybe I’ll get another one after Monza as well in September. A couple of months away [and] I’ll get to feel what it’s like.

“I’m certainly excited to drive a fast car, but also a car that maybe still feels familiar for me – it does a little bit in the sim,” he said.

“But I’m just excited to drive again and to just try to remind a team obviously I once had a lot of success with that I can still turn a fast lap.”

RICCIARDO NOT DONE WITH F1

- Callum Dick

The affable Aussie has made no secret of his hopes to return to Formula One as soon as next season, even as he appears to be thoroughly enjoying his 2023 role as Red Bull’s reserve driver.

At 33, Ricciardo says the fire still burns inside him to race in F1 and he wants to challenge for podiums and race victories once again, after a middling two seasons at McLaren ended in him being replaced by rookie Aussie Oscar Piastri for 2023.

Formula One seats are always at a premium but particularly at teams capable of winning races. And a quick glance over the grid suggests Ricciardo’s chances of returning via a competitive car next season are limited.

But that won’t stop him from trying.

Daniel Ricciardo has enjoyed his time as a reserve driver but still wants a full-time F1 return next season. Picture: Getty Images

The eight-time Grand Prix winner revealed he will get behind the wheel of the all-conquering RB19 later this year and was eager to remind a particular team of his driving ability.

“I’m certainly excited to drive a fast car, but also a car that maybe still feels familiar to me – it does a little bit in the sim. But I’m just excited to drive again and to just try to remind a team obviously I once had a lot of success with that I can still turn a fast lap.”

Not just any team, Ricciardo says, but one he “obviously had a lot of success with”.

That of course being Red Bull, with whom he took seven Grand Prix victories over five seasons.

That small detail will raise eyebrows up and down pit lane, given the circumstances around Red Bull’s current driver pairing.

According to both team and driver, two-time world champion Max Verstappen will only leave Red Bull once his F1 career is over.

That leaves the seat of Sergio Perez as one for Ricciardo to target.

‘Checo’ has enjoyed a blistering start to the 2023 season, taking wins in both Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, to sit just 14 points behind Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.

Sergio Perez has been in great form so far in 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Prior to the season, his place in the team was considered by some as under threat – particularly after Ricciardo rejoined Red Bull as its reserve driver.

But Perez has barely put a foot wrong in 2023 and has been the clear second-best driver on the grid so far this season, albeit in a car markedly better than any other.

His contract also expires at the end of 2024, meaning a move to replace him with Ricciardo next season would not be so cut and dry.

Still, the Aussie says he has “unfinished business” in F1 and sounds ready to put up a fight.

“I’m definitely still in a really good place – I’m very happy with this,” he said of his 2023 reserve driver role.

“Does it mean that I’m happy doing this for the next two or three years? Probably not. But I think for this year it’s certainly a good thing for me.

“Right now, I do want to get back on the grid next year. I do feel like there’s certainly some unfinished business. I’m staying in the loop and staying prepared and whatever.”