Australian Daniel Ricciardo will return to a Formula One race seat with AlphaTauri from Hungary next week after replacing Nyck de Vries for the rest of the season, the Red Bull-owned team said on Tuesday.
Ricciardo drove for the team from 2012-13 when they were known as Toro Rosso and then graduated to Red Bull from 2014 to 2018, winning seven races.
He left McLaren last year after being replaced by compatriot Oscar Piastri and was due to spend 2023 on the sidelines as Red Bull reserve while deciding his future intentions.
“I am stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family,” commented Ricciardo.
De Vries has had a difficult season and his departure comes as no surprise with the Dutch driver failing to score a point and sitting bottom of the standings.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Daniel back into the team,” AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost said.
“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 One Grand Prix winner.”
