Ricciardo returns to Red Bull in 2023 as a reserve driver

https://www.gpblog.c...l-for-2023.html

Helmut Marko has confirmed to Sky Sports Germany that Daniel Ricciardo will become the third driver at Red Bull next year. The Australian will thus return to the Red Bull Racing team after four years.

Good news for both Red Bull and Ricciardo I think! Hope he finds a way back to his form and then to the grid. 

Wow. I didn't expect either side to seriously want to do anything with each other again. Seems like a marriage of convenience at best.

Edited by FullOppositeLock, 18 November 2022 - 12:52.

I'll bet you he'll do a few FP1's next year and race at least once in the first 10 races......

Hell of a news! 

I'd say we see him back as RBR driver next to MV. 

He'll probably do more advertisement than driving. But nonetheless I hope he'll get into the groove again so he can secure a seat for 2024.

I'll bet you he'll do a few FP1's next year and race at least once in the first 10 races......

If he gets to do just one drive in FP1 it's over for Perez (unless the latter is ill, injured or otherwise not able to participate). And Liam Lawson is reserve driver by the way.

Phase 2 of Operation Aussie Phoenix, complete.

It's all just a scare tactic to keep Sergio in check (behave or we can easily replace you)

Wow. I didn't expect either side to seriously want to do anything with each other again. Seems like a marriage of convenience at best.

When the intensity of the cockpit meets the outside world in the era where social media makes the uninformed not realise it’s uninformed and that because it’s seen something believes it understands it, this is the fall-out.

If he gets to do just one drive in FP1 it's over for Perez (unless the latter is ill, injured or otherwise not able to participate). And Liam Lawson is reserve driver by the way.

Marko says Ric will be the 3rd driver. What's the difference with the reserve driver? Are they going to enter 3 cars or is this something lost in translation? 

Marko says Ric will be the 3rd driver. What's the difference with the reserve driver? Are they going to enter 3 cars or is this something lost in translation? 

Don't know, with Marko you never know, but the Autosport article reported this.

But Marko said in the same interview that Liam Lawson, who has raced in Formula 2 for the past two seasons, would fulfil the reserve role across Red Bull and AlphaTauri next year.

This reminds me of how the producers of the Top Gear Specials would remind the lads that if their vehicle failed, there was an alternative they could just bring in, as motivation to not let that happen.

Clever move for Daniel - all is clearly not rosy between Checo and Max and that puts Checo's seat at serious risk if it continues.

In addition, if Mercedes are as competitive as Red Bull next season, I think the constructors championship becomes a much tougher ask with Checo in that seat.

Daniel taking that seat for 2024 is a very real possibility.

If he gets to do just one drive in FP1 it's over for Perez (unless the latter is ill, injured or otherwise not able to participate). And Liam Lawson is reserve driver by the way.

Better fix the title, because he'll be 3rd driver, doing the promo stuff.

Liam Lawson will be reserve driver of Red Bull and Alfa Tauri. 

Sergio looking over his shoulder!

This reminds me of how the producers of the Top Gear Specials would remind the lads that if their vehicle failed, there was an alternative they could just bring in, as motivation to not let that happen.

Checo is thinking about retirement at the end of his contract - something about not enjoying the ever expanding calendar.

So then we are truely seeing Ricciardo's last race on Sunday.

At least he will get to do some parade laps at events as a Red Bull race winner in a Red Bull, so to him that may be a nice swan song.

This reminds me of how the producers of the Top Gear Specials would remind the lads that if their vehicle failed, there was an alternative they could just bring in, as motivation to not let that happen.

I think he will be on circus driver duty - entertaining fans in demo runs, and amusing them with his lack of general knowledge He might even wear red sponge nose during those. Good driver choice by Red Bull, actually.  

Edited by NoForumForOldPole, 18 November 2022 - 14:25.

Serious step down for Ricciardo. He should have gone to IndyCar instead. Ending up 3rd driver in the team he left to become lead driver elsewhere feels rather humiliating

Serious step down for Ricciardo. He should have gone to IndyCar instead. Ending up 3rd driver in the team he left to become lead driver elsewhere feels rather humiliating

I think he had a choice of going where he wanted. 

His choice was to do this.

Feels good to know that he is going to do what he wanted.

Serious step down for Ricciardo. He should have gone to IndyCar instead. Ending up 3rd driver in the team he left to become lead driver elsewhere feels rather humiliating

I don't think so, he comes across as a PR person now rather than a serious racing driver, this is the perfect move for him, next step is probably as commentator or analyst for one of the networks? 

I don't think so, he comes across as a PR person now rather than a serious racing driver, this is the perfect move for him, next step is probably as commentator or analyst for one of the networks? 

I could see how Seb might be a good PR person for them also, once he retires. He might not want the work though. For Daniel, he might as well have a well paid role for as long as he can. I can't see Red Bull bringing in a rising star without giving them the Alpha Tauri experience first, so the ball "could come loose at the back of the scrum", as someone used to say. Sergio is not untouchable. I wonder how easily they could check whether Daniel's McLaren foibles would carry over to the Red Bull?

Edited by Rediscoveryx, 18 November 2022 - 15:38.

All the best to him 

I'll bet you he'll do a few FP1's next year and race at least once in the first 10 races......

Monaco?

“Start being them”.

strange move by Ric, but apparently he has settled in being a second/third driver.

I think he had a choice of going where he wanted. 

His choice was to do this.

 

Feels good to know that he is going to do what he wanted.

translation - not doing anything as a 3rd driver

DR should never have left. Even though Max is the better driver, DR had opportunities for lots of wins there, and you never know, maybe a WDC... 

Ric was argueably at his peak at RB - and got beaten by Verstappen and left in a huff.

To think he has a chance at a race seat now is fantasy surely - can anyone see anything other than a complete drubbing by Max if he did replace Perez ?

The guy has shot his bolt. This is just a slow-mo end of his career in F1.  Certainly at a top team.

Ric was argueably at his peak at RB - and got beaten by Verstappen and left in a huff.

 

To think he has a chance at a race seat now is fantasy surely - can anyone see anything other than a complete drubbing by Max if he did replace Perez ?

 

The guy has shot his bolt. This is just a slow-mo end of his career in F1.  Certainly at a top team.

Obviously I think Max would easily win out over a season but I'm actually willing to bet Ricciardo would be a lot closer over a season than Perez.

Obviously, this is presuming Daniel's struggles are McLaren dependent.

I guess everybody who thinks Perez is in danger of being replacved forgot--along with RBR--about how well Verstappen and Ricciardo got along on track. Not sure that's what the team wants, unless Ricciardo has agreed to be castrated for the chance to get in the car. And that's if they even think that he has any speed left, which is a serious question after two years of almost total mediocrity at McLaren.

Imagine if Red Bull replaced Perez (who performs very well in that 2nd driver role) by Ricciardo and Ricciardo then would underperform in the same manner as he did at McLaren. That would be a situation Red Bull doesn't want to be in. Can't see that scenario happening.

Edited by William Hunt, 18 November 2022 - 22:05.

Obviously I think Max would easily win out over a season but I'm actually willing to bet Ricciardo would be a lot closer over a season than Perez.

Obviously, this is presuming Daniel's struggles are McLaren dependent.

Seems to be a bit of back pedalling on this. Marko saying something lost in translation

Yep, to Servus he now says they are talks, nothing more

Meh. He’s not even reserve driver.

He’ll do demo runs and that’s about it.

Beats the hell out of playing cards.

This seemed like the smart play all along for him.

I suspect he will spend a year on the 'sidelines' while they validate if he is as fast as he previously was, and if thats the case he could replace Sergio.

He would be both an upgrade in all areas and that would result in the revival of the best thread in autosport history 

Edited by RPM40, 18 November 2022 - 22:32.

Imagine if Red Bull replaced Perez (who performs very well in that 2nd driver role) by Ricciardo and Ricciardo then would underperform in the same manner as he did at McLaren. That would be a situation Red Bull doesn't want to be in. Can't see that scenario happening.

Thankfully they'd have plenty of time to validate him. He will be doing a lot of sim work I'm sure. It seems like the perfect outcome for both parties, they can see if he still has it. 

Lol pressure on Perez right now.. Two drivers breathing down his neck.

Weird I think but maybe he needs the "time off" after what happened at McLaren. Sadly maybe we see a scenario where Danny is winning a race in a redbull before Lando wins one in the McLaren. Hope not but It cann happen.

This seemed like the smart play all along for him.

I suspect he will spend a year on the 'sidelines' while they validate if he is as fast as he previously was, and if thats the case he could replace Sergio.

He would be both an upgrade in all areas and that would result in the revival of the best thread in autosport history