Daniel Ricciardo returns to Pink Bull F1 crew as check driver

Pink Bull Racing introduced on Wednesday it has signed Daniel Ricciardo as a reserve driver for the 2023 System 1 World Championship, and probably past.

Within the position he’ll help the crew with testing and simulator work, in addition to some industrial actions.

He will even be first in line to race ought to one of many crew’s present drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, must skip a spherical.

Ricciardo misplaced his spot at McLaren on the shut of the 2022 season, and having failed to search out one other seat was trying on the finish of his F1 profession. Nonetheless, the brand new position will preserve him busy and in form as he continues his aim of discovering a seat within the 2024 season.

“For me personally, the flexibility to contribute to and be surrounded by the most effective crew in F1 is vastly interesting, whereas additionally giving me a while to recharge and refocus,” Ricciardo mentioned in a press release.

Ricciardo already has loads of historical past with Pink Bull. He began his F1 profession as a check driver for Pink Bull feeder crew Toro Rosso, which as we speak competes as AlphaTauri. His first season as a driver was in 2011, with HRT, after which he joined Toro Rosso in 2011 after which Pink Bull in 2014, the place he stayed till becoming a member of Renault in 2019. He then joined McLaren in 2021.

He is had eight wins in his profession. One of many wins got here in 2021 with McLaren and the remaining have been throughout his time with Pink Bull.

Fellow Australian Oscar Piastri was named in September as Ricciardo’s alternative at McLaren.