Formula One 2023: Daniel Ricciardo will race for AlphaTauri in Hungarian Grand Prix

Australian F1 star, Daniel Ricciardo will join the grid for next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, but for which team?

Daniel Ricciardo will replace Nyck de Vries at Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri as soon as next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The West Australian’s six month sabbatical is over.

Sacked by McLaren last season with a year left to run on his contract, Ricciardo rejoined Red Bull in the off-season as a reserve driver and has been vocal in his desire to return to the grid full-time.

That opportunity has arrived much earlier than many expected.

Red Bull on Wednesday morning confirmed Ricciardo had been loaned to AlphaTauri for the remainder of the 2023 season.

“I’m stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family,” Ricciardo said.

Daniel Ricciardo will Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

He will partner Yuki Tsunoda for the remaining 12 races.

“Following a strong performance in today’s tyre test at Silverstone, Daniel Ricciardo will be driving for Scuderia AlphaTauri with immediate effect,” Red Bull said in a statement.

“Joining the Scuderia on loan from Oracle Red Bull Racing, Daniel will line up in Budapest for his first race.”

De Vries is one of only two drivers – the other being Williams rookie Logan Sargeant – not to have scored a point so far this season.

The Dutch driver’s position has been considered under threat for months, with Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko regularly questioning the 28-year-old’s performances.

At the same time rumours began circulating within the paddock that Ricciardo was being considered as a replacement.

The Aussie was in the spotlight on Tuesday when he stepped into the RB19 for a tyre test at Silverstone.

Marko had previously revealed the test doubled as an opportunity for Red Bull to see what Ricciardo was able to do behind the wheel of this season’s best car.

Now he is set to pilot arguably the worst car on the grid, with Tsunoda’s pair of 10th-place finishes early in the season AlphaTauri’s only points so far.

It still represents a return to full-time racing for Ricciardo and importantly, an opportunity to impress the Red Bull bosses.

Daniel Ricciardo will return to the F1 Grid as early as next weekend in Budapest. Picture: Peter Fox/Getty Images

“It was great to see Daniel hasn’t lost any form while away from racing and that the strides he has been making in his SIM sessions translate on track,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said.

“His times during the tyre test were extremely 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.”

Scuderia AlphaTauri Team Principal Franz Tost said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Daniel back into the team.

“There’s no doubt about his driving skills, and he already knows many of us, so his integration will be easy and straight forward. The team will also profit a lot from his experience, as he is an eight-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner.

“I would like to thank Nyck for his valuable contribution during his time with Scuderia AlphaTauri and I wish him all the best for the future.”

With Sergio Perez’s shocking drop in form continuing with another Q1 exit at Silverstone last weekend, Red Bull could yet be on the hunt for a partner to Max Verstappen from next season.

Tsunoda has long been touted as a future Red Bull starter while the team’s other reserve driver, Logan Lawson, is also highly rated.

Ricciardo and Tsunoda could very well be vying against each other for a future vacant Red Bull seat, should the reigning world champions decide to move on from Perez at the end of the season.

Regardless of how the cards fall, Aussie F1 fans can rejoice in the knowledge Ricciardo will join compatriot Oscar Piastri on the grid from next weekend.