The sixth season of Formula 1: Drive to Survive sheds light on Daniel Ricciardo’s return to Red Bull for the 2023 Formula One World Championship.
Daniel Ricciardo first drove for Red Bull in 2014, stepping in as a replacement for Mark Webber.
The 2014 season concluded with Ricciardo securing 238 points, clinching three wins and five more podium finishes. He ultimately finished third in the championship.
He remained with Red Bull until 2018, enjoying several successful seasons before deciding to move on.
Ricciardo then competed for Renault in 2019 and 2020, but the partnership was short-lived as he transitioned to McLaren for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
In 2022, Ricciardo’s contract with McLaren was terminated a year early, leaving him without prospects for the 2023 season until he received an offer from Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal.
A career-saving opportunity
Ricciardo joined Red Bull once again but as the third driver this time, which meant he would be doing a lot many things except driving.
He went from being a full-time race driver to taking up a marketing role, and this was considered Ricciardo’s fall from grace.
However, he made a comeback very soon. When Nyck de Vries of AlphaTauri failed to perform the way it was expected of him, Horner decided to replace him with Ricciardo.
Ricciardo was tested, and despite driving after an eight-month break, the results were more than satisfying.
Ricciardo then competed in the 2023 Formula One World Championship as an AlphaTauri driver. However, Ricciardo’s troubles were not yet over.
A journey full of obstacles
After a few races, Ricciardo suffered a setback when he sustained a hand injury during free practice for the Dutch Grand Prix, fracturing a metacarpal bone in seven places.
He was told that he would have to undergo surgery. His position as an AlphaTauri driver was once again in jeopardy, as he missed several races.
Liam Lawson stepped in and performed very well, sparking concerns about Ricciardo’s future with the team.
Fortunately, Ricciardo’s Formula One journey did not come to an end. Despite Lawson’s great performance, the team opted to retain Ricciardo alongside Yuki Tsunoda as their primary drivers.
Following his recovery, Ricciardo continued working hard to prove his worth, culminating in AlphaTauri’s best finish of the season at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
He secured the seventh position, elevating the team to the eighth position in the constructors’ championship.
Ricciardo will continue to drive for AlphaTauri, now rebranded as the RB Formula One Team, as a full-time driver in the 2023 Formula One World Championship.
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