Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo expressed his desire for a fairytale ending to his career with a return to Red Bull Racing. Now, after an impressive test session at Silverstone, Christian Horner, the Team Principal of Red Bull, has acknowledged that this dramatic reunion may indeed be a possibility.
During an interview with the F1 Nation podcast, Horner shed light on Ricciardo’s journey from being a reserve driver for Red Bull to joining AlphaTauri. As Horner revealed, it was not an easy road for Ricciardo, as his performance and physical transformation were barely recognizable to the team.
“I didn’t really recognize the Daniel, over the last couple of years, that we’d sort of grown so used to, that had grown up with us,” said Horner, expressing his initial concerns about Ricciardo’s altered demeanor.
The turning point came when Ricciardo drove the simulator just days after the Abu Dhabi race, only to encounter a complete disaster. Years of working with a previous engineer had led him to develop numerous bad habits. Determined to rectify the situation, Ricciardo and the team worked meticulously to uncover and address these shortcomings.
Horner recounted their progress, stating, “Gradually we unpicked it… With each session, he just got better and better. You could see his confidence growing to the point that he was absolutely on the pace with the race drivers.”
As Ricciardo showed remarkable improvement, AlphaTauri rookie Nyck de Vries faced challenges of his own, struggling to find his confidence in his debut season. The pressure mounted further when Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko cautioned de Vries to enhance his performance on the track.
With de Vries fighting to secure his place in Formula 1, discussions with Ricciardo about potentially taking over for the struggling driver became more serious. Horner revealed that Ricciardo was even willing to take a step back by driving for AlphaTauri in order to propel himself forward.
To evaluate Ricciardo’s readiness, Red Bull planned a test at Silverstone. Although the outcome was uncertain, it didn’t take long for Horner to realize that Ricciardo was in top form.
“What impressed me the most when I went up to have a look at the test was, bearing in mind he hasn’t driven this car, 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,” Horner explained.
He further described the relief visible on Ricciardo’s face as the day progressed. It was evident that Ricciardo still possessed the talent and skill to compete at the highest level. His long runs during the test were also highly commendable, and his work with Pirelli was top-notch.
The announcement of Ricciardo’s potential return to Red Bull has sparked speculation about his future. With Sergio Pérez facing struggles, especially during qualifying sessions, many have entertained the idea of Ricciardo’s earlier-than-expected reunion. However, both Marko and Horner have downplayed these notions, affirming Pérez’s secure position for now.
Looking ahead, Horner reassured that Ricciardo’s current position is not under threat, emphasizing his strong performances and contrasting them with de Vries’ struggles. While both Max Verstappen and Pérez are confirmed for next year, Horner acknowledged that having a talented driver like Ricciardo in reserve is always beneficial.
With Pérez’s contract expiring in 2024, the potential for a Ricciardo reunion at Red Bull remains uncertain. The coming weeks might shed light on this captivating narrative. Horner suggests that Ricciardo’s aspirations lie in racing for AlphaTauri and firmly positioning himself as a contender for the coveted Red Bull seat in 2025.
Only time will tell if Daniel Ricciardo’s impressive resurgence will lead him back to the team where he experienced his greatest successes. Until then, fans and the Formula 1 community eagerly await the unfolding chapters of this tale.
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