Daniel Ricciardo has undergone a seat fitting for AlphaTauri’s Formula 1 car as part of his role with Red Bull in 2023.
While this move may be unrelated to AlphaTauri’s rookie driver Nyck de Vries struggling in his debut season, De Vries will certainly feel the pressure mounting ahead of a triple-header of tracks he knows well.
As Red Bull’s “third driver,” Ricciardo has taken on a lot of promotional work for the team, but his job is not just for show.
The Australian driver has already worked on the simulator, acted as a reserve driver for two races, and is expected to participate in at least two Pirelli tyre tests this year.
Although Ricciardo will only be present for eight grands prix under normal circumstances, he is believed to offer cover for AlphaTauri and the senior Red Bull team when he is on-site, which could explain his visit to AlphaTauri’s Faenza factory for a seat fitting.
Despite the lack of opportunities to race this season, Ricciardo is determined to return to the grid in 2024.
The 33-year-old is eager to prove that he is not the same driver he appeared to be at McLaren, and the 2023 AlphaTauri does not seem to offer the chance to demonstrate that.
However, if a Red Bull race seat becomes available and Ricciardo wants to prove his worth to the team, a stop-gap with AlphaTauri might be necessary.
This has fueled speculations of a move to AlphaTauri when he underwent the seat fit. However, ESPN Sources close to Daniel Ricciardo have stated that he is not being considered as a replacement for Nyck de Vries at the moment.
Furthermore, Ricciardo did not take part in a test drive in Italy this week, which is part of his contract and is usually conducted ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
Instead, the Australian driver travelled to Europe to attend the wedding of Scotty James and Chloe Stroll.
If the Mavericks find themselves in need of a mid-season substitution, it appears that Red Bull’s youth training driver, Liam Lawson, would be the leading candidate for the role.
