It’s Official: Daniel to Red Bull
Posted on November 26, 2022 Tags: Red Bull Racing
This is a Story That Never Ends!
Deal Done Late Wednesday.
DANIEL RICCIARDO WILL RETURN to Red Bull Racing next season as the team’s third driver — a role that keeps the popular Australian in Formula One while not on the actual grid.
Red Bull ‘fessed up to the hiring after Daniel and the team both indicated during Abu Dhabi’s season finale they were formalising the role.
For mine, it’s the best possible outcome for Daniel – short of a decent drive for 2023.
As third driver, the 32-year-old Perth superstar will help Red Bull with testing and simulator work, and his undeniable marketing skills.
“It’s great to bring Daniel back into the Red Bull family.”
“We’re very pleased to be working with Daniel again and look forward to everything he will bring to the team in 2023.
“He has enormous talent and is such a brilliant character.
“I know the whole factory is excited to be welcoming him home.
“His role will give us the chance to diversify, assisting in the development of the car, aiding the team with his experience and knowledge of what it takes to succeed in F1.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner
Daniel’s Back Where He Belongs
“I already have so many fond memories of my time here [at Red Bull].
“For me, personally, the ability to contribute to – and be surrounded by – the best team in F1 is hugely appealing, whilst also giving me some time to recharge and refocus.”
Daniel with Mum, Grace.
Stellar Record with Red Bull
- Daniel drove for Red Bull from 2014 to 2018, enjoying the most successful years of his career, after being elevated from junior team Toro Rosso.
- He finished third in the F1 Championship, scoring the first three of his eight career victories.
- Daniel won in 2016 – the year he was the only driver to finish all 21 races on the schedule – and again in 2017 when he scored nine podiums.
- He won two of the first six races in 2018, including his cherished victory at Monaco.
- Daniel then left Red Bull to drive for Renault for two seasons, with the past two at McLaren.
- He was let go by McLaren earlier this year to make way for fellow Australian Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen, the reigning two-time F1 World champion, and Sergio Pérez are Red Bull’s two drivers.
And Max has now become an F1 great with his record-breaking season – arguably the greatest performance of any world champion, according to some notables – with Red Bull also winning both the driver and constructors’ titles.
A McLaren Legacy
While Daniel’s time with the British team perhaps can best be described as underwhelming, the young man often referred to as the Honey Badger did achieve the F1’s main chance – a win.
He led a stunning McLaren 1-2 at Monza in the 2021 Italian F1 Grand Prix, after Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided.
That win broke an extraordinary 170-race drought for McLaren, going back to Jenson Button’s victory in Brazil 2012.
And we all well know: to finish first, you must first finish!
Adelaide 500 Back with a Bang
The VALO Adelaide 500 is Australia’s largest domestic motorsport event and provides four actioned-packed days of adrenalised entertainment for all.
Craig Lowndes, pictured below, will step behind the wheel of the Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro at next weekend’s VALO Adelaide 500, as the iconic event returns to the City streets for the first time in three years.
The Gen3 prototypes will be on track on all four days of the December 1-4 season finale.
Lowndes and Erebus Motorsport driver Brodie Kostecki will share the Camaro track time.
The Gen3 Ford Mustang will be driven by Tickford Racing star Cam Waters and Zane Goddard.
Led on-track by the closing round of the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship and five support racing categories, the event boasts a comprehensive off-track entertainment offering, including driver autograph session, sideshows and an after-race concert series (Friday-Sunday).
Whether you choose to roam the circuit with a General Admission ticket, or catch the action from your reserved Grandstand seat, you won’t want to miss a minute as Adelaide ignites for the highly anticipated return of the 2022 VALO Adelaide 500.
Gen3 Supercars Hit Wanneroo in April
The WA Sporting Car Club has announced the return of the Supercars to Western Australia at CARCO.com.au Raceway April 28-30.
The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship sees the inaugural Gen3 Ford Mustang vs Chevrolet Camaro featuring 12 rounds, including two endurance races.
The new era of racing begins on the streets of Newcastle March 10-12, with the championship heading to Melbourne for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park March 30-April 2.
The Perth SuperSprint is next on the calendar after a new multi-year deal struck between Supercars and the Western Australian Government at CARCO.com.au Raceway.
The WASCC is preparing for a bumper 2023 season at WA’s premier motor racing circuit. The link below features the proud club’s 2022 State Champions, following the recent annual Awards dinner.
https://adrianchambersmotorsports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-WASCC-champions-1.pdf
EDITED by AC
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