Revving Up the Season: Daniel Ricciardo Takes the Wheel, Replacing Nyck De Vries Mid-Season for AlphaTauri
Photo by Autosport.com
The lesser-known Dutch Formula 1 driver has been shockingly let go mid-season. The Formula E and Formula 2 champion seemed to be a shoo-in after his Formula 1 debut last season at the Italian GP filling in for Alex Albon and scoring points. Sadly, he has not been performing to that caliber this season and has not scored points at all. His closest finish to the points was a P12 in Monaco but he has been on a slippery slope back down to the bottom of the grid. Eight-time Grand Prix winner and Red Bull Racing’s reserve driver, Daniel Riccardo has replaced the young driver.
The news broke while Daniel was conducting a tire test for the Red Bull Team at Silverstone Circuit where the Red Bull Team Boss had this to say:
“It is great to see Daniel hasn’t lost any form while away from racing and that the strides he has been making in his sim sessions translate on track. His times during the tire test were extremely competitive. It was a very impressive drive, and we are excited to see what the rest of the season brings for Daniel on loan at Scuderia AlphaTauri.”
All this news comes after multiple public comments by Helmut Marko, the Red Bull Motorsport Boss, expressing his dissatisfaction with Nyck’s performance.
This change mid-season will bring Daniel Riccardo back to the team he raced for in 2012 and 2013 previously called Toro Rosso and back into the Red Bull Racing family. A family he was previously a part of until 2018 when he decided to leave for Renault. We will next see Daniel Riccardo race at the Hungarian Grand Prix.