Daniel Ricciardo’s potential return to Red Bull as Max Verstappen’s teammate has been a topic of discussion due to his renowned “tough as nuts” mentality. The Australian driver has rekindled his association with Red Bull in 2023, serving as a reserve driver after McLaren released him from his contract following two challenging years with the team.
Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri starting from the Hungarian Grand Prix, offering him an opportunity to impress Red Bull and potentially position himself as a contender for the second seat alongside Max Verstappen at the senior team.
Ricciardo and Verstappen were teammates at Red Bull from 2016 to 2018, forming a formidable pairing as Verstappen established himself in Formula 1. Despite his departure to Renault, Ricciardo has remained highly regarded by Red Bull.
Initially, Red Bull brought in former Mercedes Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries for 2023, but they decided to change course mid-season, opening the door for Ricciardo’s return.
Ricciardo’s strong start to his return has garnered attention, and the scrutiny on his performance is expected to intensify in the second half of the year. He has expressed his desire to compete for Sergio Perez’s seat alongside Verstappen when Perez’s contract concludes at the end of 2024.
David Kennedy, a former Shadow F1 racer and three-time Le Mans winner, expressed surprise at Ricciardo not being considered earlier for the role. Kennedy praised Ricciardo’s performance during his time as Verstappen’s teammate, emphasizing his resilience and skill as a driver.
