Daniel Ricciardo will replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri from the 2023 Hungarian GP onwards, it has been announced.
“I am stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family!” Ricciardo said, following an impressive performance during a test at Silverstone.
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“I’m very pleased to welcome Daniel back into the team,” Franz Tost, AlphaTauri Team Principal, added.
“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.”
De Vries partnered Yuki Tsunoda but failed to beat his teammate in any of the 10 races he participated in this season.
With the midfield battle proving challenging this season, Tsunoda has secured the only points AlphaTauri has achieved this season, with the Red Bull junior team sitting in last place in the Constructors’ Standings.
The Dutchman only managed a season best of P14 in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Barcelona, suffering a number of embarrassing and avoidable crashes which cost AlphaTauri valuable funds.
De Vries hasn’t issued a statement yet on his firing but his sister took to Instagram shortly before it was announced to state he will always have her support.
Ricciardo raced with AlphaTauri under its old name ‘Toro Rosso’ from 2012-2013 prior to making the step up to Red Bull in 2014.
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Partnering Jean-Eric Vergne, Ricciardo impressed during his time, out qualifying the Frenchman 30-7 during his time at the junior team.
When Red Bull sought to replace fellow Australian Mark Webber, Ricciardo was moved into the seat, joining Sebastian Vettel at the title-winning team.
Ricciardo will be keen to make a quick impression at AlphaTauri, putting pressure on Tsunoda, as the Australian hopes to secure a permanent spot at the team or, if Sergio Perez is sacked at the end of the season, place himself front of the lined for the Red Bull seat.