(Motorsports news) As Daniel Ricciardo prepares for his F1 return at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, the Australian is well aware that he will face a difficult time in an AlphaTauri car that has dropped the team to the bottom of the constructors’ championship standings.
But, when asked why Ricciardo chose to jump into the deep end as a replacement for Nyck de Vries, Red Bull team chief Horner revealed that there is a broader picture at work. He claims Ricciardo is certainly out to prove himself as the strongest candidate for a place at Red Bull in 2025, when current driver Perez’s contract expires.
Christian Horner told the F1 Nation podcast that Ricciardo was not being considered for a Red Bull spot in 2024, but that everything was focused on the following year. “At the moment, there’s only something in place until the end of the season, so there are no thoughts or expectations beyond that,” Horner explained. “Until the end of the year, we’ve loaned him to AlphaTauri.”
“Obviously, our drivers will be Max Verstappen and Checo Perez again next year, but having talent in reserve is always a good thing.” And I believe Daniel is watching AlphaTauri since he is vying for the 2025 Red Bull position. “That is his goal and objective, and I believe he sees going to AlphaTauri as his best route of stating his case for 2025.”
Christian Horner revealed that the decision to give Ricciardo the AlphaTauri seat for the remainder of the season was made fast after last week’s Silverstone tyre test, when the Australian got his first taste of Red Bull’s RB19 car.
Christian Horner said the choice was effectively made when he recorded a time that, when adjusted for fuel, tyre, and track circumstances, would have been good enough to secure a seat on the front row for the British Grand Prix.
“What impressed me the most, and I went up to look at the test,” Horner explained, “was that despite the fact that he hadn’t driven this car and hadn’t been in a car for seven months, within his third or fourth lap he was down to a time that was within a second of what our drivers were achieving.”
“Then, on his first proper run, on comparable tyres, you could see his confidence growing and growing.” That first [flying] lap, which was probably his sixth of the day, would have put him at the front of the grid. As a result, it was really stunning.”
Despite the fact that Ricciardo may struggle in the challenging AlphaTauri, Horner stated that there was no hesitation in accepting the challenge when it became evident that a replacement for Nyck de Vries was required. “First and foremost, we had to be clear that he wanted to do it,” Horner stated. “Getting into an AlphaTauri is not the same as driving a Red Bull Car.”
“It will undoubtedly have its challenges, and I think what we needed to be sure of was whether he was up for the challenge of scrapping to get out of Q1?” And he seemed eager to return to that position, to get back on the grid and be an F1 driver once more.”
Christian Horner added that it would have been “unfair” to put a rookie like Liam Lawson in the driver’s position instead of someone as experienced as Ricciardo, as he explained why he believed de Vries had not achieved what was expected.
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