F1 2023 | Daniel Ricciardo completes loan move to AlphaTauri, Nyck De Vries

In a surprising development in Formula One 2023, Red Bull’s third driver Daniel Ricciardo’s Pirelli tyre tests became an audition for a shock return to the grid replacing AlphaTauri’s second driver Nyck De Vries. Ricciardo will be making his return for July 23’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo will make a shock return to Formula One at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner, who was axed by McLaren at the end of last year, will replace Nyck de Vries at Red Bull’s junior team AlphaTauri for the rest of the year.

The Hungarian GP is on July 23.

“I am stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family,” Ricciardo said in a statement released by Red Bull Racing on Tuesday.

Rookie De Vries was hired by AlphaTauri at the beginning of this season but he has been dropped after only 10 races, paving the way for Ricciardo’s sudden comeback.

The 34-year-old Ricciardo’s career looked to be all but over after he was deemed surplus to requirements by McLaren following two underwhelming seasons with the British team.

Ricciardo failed to land a seat for the 2023 season and instead chose to return to Red Bull — the team at which he won seven Grands Prix — as a reserve driver.