Revived Ricciardo wants to end his career with Red Bull

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands : A fully re-energised Daniel Ricciardo spelled out his Formula One plans on Thursday, saying he wanted to race for a few more years before ending his career within the Red Bull family.

The 34-year-old Australian started his comeback with Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri last month, after taking time out following his exit from McLaren at the end of 2022, but hopes eventually to return to reigning champions Red Bull Racing.

Red Bull's Mexican Sergio Perez will be out of contract as double world champion Max Verstappen's team mate at the end of next season.

Ricciardo's two years at McLaren were disappointing, generally eclipsed by younger team mate Lando Norris, but he said at the Dutch Grand Prix he was in a good place again and had a point to prove.

"Now that I'm back in the Red Bull family it's the only place I want to be and want to stay," he told Sky Sports television.

"However much longer my career is, it's where I want to end my career.

"It feels like it's the perfect way to finish this second part of my career and of course the dream is to get back to the big team. But if it's not that, then I made it clear that I want to be here (AlphaTauri)."

Ricciardo told reporters he was looking well beyond the end of the season.

"I want to be racing for a few more years," he said. "Six months ago that was not my answer... It feels like me 10 years ago, I feel like I do have that young energy again and that motivation.

"I want to get back to the early days and the real kind of roots and the core of why I got into this and the things that motivated me... just kind of strip everything back and get back to the pure enjoyment of the sport and the love of it."

Ricciardo had no need for an August break after missing the