Daniel Ricciardo 'stoked' to return to F1 grid with AlphaTauri until end of season

Daniel Ricciardo will return to the Formula One grid from the Hungarian Grand Prix next week after the Australian was confirmed to replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri until the end of the season, the Red Bull-owned team announced.

Ricciardo drove for the team from 2012-13, then known as Toro Rosso, before graduating to Red Bull from 2014 to 2018, winning seven races.

He left McLaren last year after being replaced by compatriot Oscar Piastri and was due to spend 2023 on the sidelines as Red Bull reserve while deciding his future intentions.

"I am stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family," Ricciardo said.

De Vries has had a difficult season and his departure comes as no surprise. The Dutch driver failed to score a point and sits bottom of the standings.

"I'm very pleased to welcome Daniel back into the team," AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost said.

"There's no doubt about his driving skills, and he already knows many of us, so his integration will be easy and straight forward. The team will also profit a lot from his experience, as he is an eight-time Formula One Grand Prix winner.

"I would like to thank Nyck for his valuable contribution during his time with Scuderia AlphaTauri and I wish him all the best for the future."

De Vries had a dream debut in F1 last year when he scored points for Williams with a ninth-place finish in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza as a substitute for the unwell Alex Albon.

Back to the grid and it feels this good.