Ricciardo is back: What does it mean for Red Bull, Checo, and F1?

Formula 1 received its first major shakeup of 2023 on Tuesday when it was announced that Daniel Ricciardo would be replacing Nyck de Vries immediately at AlphaTauri. The seismic return of the “Honey Badger” has the potential to send shockwaves throughout the rest of the grid.

Here are the biggest questions concerning Ricciardo’s return to the F1 grid:

Could Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri stint lead to 2024 Red Bull seat?

Make no mistake about it: Ricciardo’s half-season stint with AlphaTauri will be a trial run that he hopes propels him back to a drive at the front of the field. Since he left McLaren in 2022, Ricciardo has been consistent with his desire to return to a front-runner. There would be no reason to budge on that goal and drive for a constructor that’s currently dead last in the standings unless a potential drive with Red Bull was dangling in front of him.

Does that spell trouble for Perez’s future?

It might not spell immediate trouble, but Ricciardo’s promotion into the AlphaTauri seat definitely adds further pressure on Sergio Perez to get up to par. As discussed in our British Grand Prix takeaways, Perez has received the backing of Red Bull – at least for 2023 – but that likely will change if the Mexican pilot doesn’t improve. Teammate Max Verstappen has enough points currently to win the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, while Perez is on a streak of five straight missed Q3 sessions and has just one podium appearance in the last five races.

Though Perez is under contract for 2024, contract buyouts are always an option. Should Ricciardo sprinkle in impressive performances in the uncompetitive AT04 as Perez continues to underdeliver in the RB19 rocketship, it wouldn’t be a major shock to see the usually ruthless Red Bull prematurely move on from a second driver once again.

What does Ricciardo’s arrival mean for Tsunoda?

Believe it or not, Ricciardo joining AlphaTauri could be the best thing that’s happened to the young and feisty Yuki Tsunoda. The 23-year-old has been discussed as a potential future Red Bull driver since he joined its junior driver program. Unfortunately, it’s been pretty hard to definitively assess just how good the Japanese driver has been lately, considering the machinery and teammate he was provided in 2023. Ricciardo changes all that for Tsunoda.

Despite being out of the sport for half of the last year, it’s a fair assumption that the Australian pilot will be a better benchmark than De Vries. Tsunoda owns an 8-2 record in qualifying and a 7-2 mark in race results over De Vries, but it’s hard to imagine the Dutch pilot outclassing any driver after he had one of the most disappointing F1 stints in recent memory. Now, Tsunoda will have to prove it against an eight-time race winner in equal machinery. The good news? If he comes out victorious, Tsunoda could speed up a potential promotion to Red Bull – perhaps even in 2024, depending on Perez’s future – or he could catch the attention of other teams around the grid.

Which Ricciardo should we expect to see?

The last time we saw Ricciardo, he looked like a shell of his former self at McLaren. In the car, he was slow and often miles behind Lando Norris. Out of the car, he lacked his trademark smile and bubbly personality. It’s impossible to say whether spending time as Red Bull’s third driver has revived the Danny Ric of old, but the initial buzz out of the Raging Bulls’ camp has been assuring.

Team principal Christian Horner credited “strides” Ricciardo has made on the simulator and noted that he hadn’t “lost any form” in his months away from the track following the Australian’s participation in Tuesday’s Pirelli tire test. Verstappen also praised his former teammate for doing a “good job” on the simulator earlier this month. Additionally, his lap times during Tuesday’s tire test at Silverstone were “extremely competitive,” according to Horner.

Compare the recent public comments from Red Bull to ones made earlier in the season, and you’ll see a difference. Horner previously said he didn’t recognize Ricciardo upon his return to the team due to bad habits picked up elsewhere. It’s been a long way back for the Australian, but by all accounts, it sounds like the Ricciardo who struggled for the majority of 2021 and 2022 is in the rearview mirror.

How does Ricciardo benefit AlphaTauri?

It may seem strange that AlphaTauri – a team that typically houses Red Bull junior drivers – is taking back a 34-year-old veteran who previously drove for the outfit a decade ago. However, Ricciardo’s full-circle return to his first F1 drive helps the team, both on and off track.

Sure, Ricciardo will be able to use his veteran experience to provide feedback on the sluggish AT04, but his return will serve Red Bull’s sister team in another massive way: exposure. Helmut Marko, a top advisor on Red Bull, has already confirmed that AlphaTauri will be no more in 2024 as the team will don new sponsors and a new name. What better way to bring more eyes (and sponsors) than by having one of Formula 1’s biggest fan favorites be the face of the team?