AlphaTauri move the first step of Ricciardo’s Red Bull return?
In a surprising turn of events, Daniel Ricciardo has been confirmed to take Nyck de Vries’ seat at AlphaTauri for the remainder of the Formula One season. This move has sparked speculation about a potential return to Red Bull for Ricciardo.
The news came as a shock to many, as Ricciardo had previously expressed his desire to take a full year off from racing. However, the opportunity to join AlphaTauri was too tempting to pass up. This move also puts immense pressure on Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to improve his performance, as Ricciardo’s arrival signals a potential replacement for him.
The decision to bring Ricciardo back into the Red Bull fold was not made lightly. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was reportedly impressed by Ricciardo’s performance during a recent test at Silverstone. Ricciardo’s lap times were impressive, with his best time being fast enough to qualify for the front row of the grid at the British Grand Prix just days earlier.
Horner had previously criticized Ricciardo for picking up bad driving habits during his time away from the team, but his performance at the test seems to have alleviated those concerns. Ricciardo’s return to form has reignited hopes of a fairytale comeback to Red Bull, a team he won seven races with between 2014 and 2018.
For Ricciardo, joining AlphaTauri is seen as a stepping stone towards a potential return to Red Bull. By taking this opportunity, he avoids the risk of being replaced by Red Bull junior driver Liam Lawson, who could potentially take his place in the future. Ricciardo sees this move as part of a long-term plan that will ultimately lead him back to Red Bull.
In his time away from Formula One, Ricciardo has gained a fresh perspective on racing and has shed the weight of the struggles he faced at McLaren. This newfound perspective has allowed him to approach his return to the sport with renewed enthusiasm.
While expectations for Ricciardo may be low due to AlphaTauri’s current position in the championship, his performance will be closely scrutinized within the team. His first task will be to outperform his new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, something he struggled to do during his time at McLaren alongside Lando Norris.
As for Perez, his position within Red Bull seems secure for now. Horner has publicly stated that Perez is safe, and without a proper evaluation of Ricciardo, cutting Perez before the end of his contract would be a drastic move. However, there is growing frustration within the team over Perez’s poor form, and if rival teams close the gap in the future, Red Bull cannot afford to have Perez underperforming.
Red Bull is well aware of the trend of what happens to Max Verstappen’s teammates. Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon both struggled to match Verstappen’s performances and were ultimately replaced. Horner is reportedly reluctant to view replacing Perez as the solution, as Verstappen’s pace and confidence can be intimidating to teammates. It remains to be seen how Red Bull will manage this dynamic moving forward.
Ricciardo’s return to the Red Bull family has certainly injected excitement into the Formula One season. Fans will be eagerly watching his performance at AlphaTauri, as it could be the first step towards a much-anticipated comeback to Red Bull.