There is a possibility that Daniel Ricciardo will continue with Alpha Tauri in 2024.
Amid swirling rumors suggesting Red Bull’s desire to reunite the 33-year-old Australian with Max Verstappen at their premier team, team boss Christian Horner clarifies that such a move cannot happen until 2025, as Sergio Perez’s contract runs until then.
Horner acknowledges that Ricciardo is “clearly” eyeing a seat at Red Bull Racing.
“Now Daniel has an opportunity between now and the end of the year to demonstrate that he hasn’t lost any of his form,” he remarked at Spa Francorchamps.
“And then a decision will be made as to whether he remains in that seat for a further 12 months. Obviously, the reason Daniel was brought back into the seat is not because he has long-term aspirations to be an Alpha Tauri driver for the next five years.
“He sees it as the quickest route to getting back into a competitive seat.”
However, before any such move, Ricciardo, who was released by McLaren last year following two lacklustre seasons with the Woking-based team, must first complete his tenure at Alpha Tauri.
“Obviously, it’s very clear that Alpha Tauri drivers and Toro Rosso drivers before that were placed there to develop them as potential Red Bull Racing candidates, and Daniel is very aware of that,” Horner explained.
“That’s his objective,” he added, “but it wouldn’t be before 2025.”
