Why is Daniel Ricciardo driving for Red Bull at the British Grand Prix?
RED BULL are running away with the 2023 F1 championship – and veteran Daniel Ricciardo is about to get in on the action.
Each race this season has been won by either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez.
And Ricciardo, 33, will be determined for his teammates to keep up this incredible run at the British Grand Prix.
The Australian returned to Red Bull for a supporting role after witnessing his McLaren contract go up in smoke.
But now he’ll be given the chance to show his former side what they are missing.
Why is Daniel Ricciardo driving for Red Bull?
Daniel Ricciardo will be back behind the wheel at Silverstone for Pirelli’s tyre testing session after the British GP.
The Australian racer is set to be around the paddock in Britain and could even replace either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez should they be unable to drive.
Ricciardo hasn’t been in the cockpit since Abu Dhabi 2022 where he could only secure a ninth-place finish.
But a good tyre test in the RB19 could boost Ricciardo’s chances of returning to the grid for the 2024 season.
What has been said?
Christian Horner has revealed that Ricciardo’s performances will be evaluated amid rumours the Australian could join AlphaTauri for 2024.
The Red Bull team principal said: “Well, it’s still very early days, you know, for next year, and I think that Daniel is under contract for the year,” Horner told reporters in Austria.
“He’s going to be driving our car for the first time after the British Grand Prix [as part of a three-day test] and he’s obviously a world-class driver. He’s won what, seven [eight, sic] grands prix in his career to date?
“So I think the first thing will be to see how he performs and where his motivation is, and then from there, it’s a question for AlphaTauri as to, you know, their choices for the following season.”
What is the RB19?
The RB19 is a racing car designed by Red Bull which currently competes in the F1 2023 championship.
It was unveiled in New York City earlier in February earlier on this year.
And the incredible race car is what has Verstappen and Perez have been driving this campaign.