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Daniel Ricciardo will return to an F1 cockpit at Silverstone on Tuesday for a Red Bull check-up. On paper, the statement is officially a tyre check for Pirelli, but it is transparent from conversations with Ricciardo and his close associates and key figures at Red. Bull that there is much more to do than gather knowledge for the F1 tyre supplier.
Last month, Ricciardo told ESPN that the “fairytale” ending to his F1 career would be to return to Red Bull in the future. and marketable on the grid, he is open to the prospect of a year at the company’s current team, AlphaTauri, to be in the two depressing seasons he has had at McLaren in 2021 and 2022.
Tuesday will be Ricciardo’s first race in a real 2023 car since returning to Red Bull as third driver (basically replacing Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez). This will be the first opportunity for the team to see him back in this environment.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said it would give the team an important perspective.
“It’s a cheque for Pirelli, but it will also be wonderful to see him back in a Red Bull car and see him where he is, whether it’s in speed and mentally, physically and also have his feedback on this car,” Horner said. He said Sunday at Silverstone.
“So I think it’s a good opportunity for him to get back the wheel of a car that just won the British Grand Prix. “
According to a F1. com report last month, AlphaTauri made it clear that Ricciardo will have a seat in 2024 if needed. Dutchman Nyck de Vries is under great pressure and would be the apparent candidate to take his place.
Several reports have suggested that De Vries won’t see the season at AlphaTauri, but Ricciardo seems an unlikely candidate to permanently update him anytime soon. Not only did he find the time out of the race mentally refreshing, but Ricciardo also has 2023 publicity obligations that would be difficult to get out of.
Seeing Ricciardo return to the current team in 2024, when he has a new call-up and a closer link with Red Bull, is very likely. While this might seem like a step backwards for an eight-time race winner and one guy thought like one of the most productive drivers on the grid, there is an apparent carrot at the end of this option. Perez’s contract with Red Bull runs until the end of 2024, so a successful season in the company’s junior team would pave the way for him. to return in 2025.
It is understood that Ricciardo has given up any ambition to compete, as he does not need to miss the opportunity to drive for the top team, probably to be the main team on the grid for the foreseeable future. His resolution to leave the team for Renault in 2019 is already one of the most debated (and criticized) purposes among F1 drivers.
All of the previous 2025 is unlikely when a return of Red Bull. Perez’s form since his final moment at the Miami Grand Prix in May has been terrible, but there is no indication that Red Bull has said privately or publicly that the Mexican driving force lately is threatened with wasting its race seat. While that would possibly replace him if the downward spiral continues into the summer months, at Silverstone, Horner warned Perez only needed a blank weekend at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix to clean up the blank slate.
At all sense, there are doubts about Ricciardo himself. Aside from his surprise victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, the Ricciardo he drove for McLaren looked like a shell of himself. Horner said Ricciardo was acting as if he had regained his “mojo”. “Since returning to Red Bull’s colours, it is unlikely that the reigning world champions will make such a drastic move as replacing Perez with Ricciardo based on some successful Pirelli tyre tests. There is no certainty of which edition of Ricciardo they would get. .
Then there are the other driving force characteristics that Red Bull should have a year from now. The company has already made vacancies at Lando Norris, and Red Bull’s driving force, Alex Albon, is lately in the shape of his life at Williams.
Unlike Pierre Gasly’s failure in 2018, when speaking to key figures at Red Bull, it is transparent that Albon’s failed tenure with the team was something he could have dealt with better. Tellingly, Albon maintained a link with Red Bull when he first signed with Williams. in 2022, and which no longer exists, the Thai engine has had a smart relationship with Horner and Helmut Marko since he left.
As things stand, Ricciardo’s call won’t even be on a short list for Red Bull, which is why a year at AlphaTauri is so essential. Horner said this after Sunday’s race at Silverstone.
Asked about Ricciardo’s comments about a dream of returning to Red Bull, Horner replied: “It’s nothing we’re planning, that’s for sure. It’s right to give him the opportunity this year to stay in the team and still be him. “I think it would have been a loss for the game if it went away.
“I haven’t identified the Daniel from the last two years, so I’ll be very interested to see what kind of paintings he does on Tuesday. “
Ricciardo plays the long game. When he left McLaren, it was evident that his characteristics were limited, but it is also evident that he now feels confident that he is on his way back, which could lead.