Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 future decided as AlphaTauri 2024 line-up is confirmed

After weeks of speculation, AlphaTauri have confirmed their driver line-up for the 2024 F1 season and outlined Daniel Ricciardo’s future.

Ricciardo has secured a full-time return to an F1 seat, with the former Red Bull race winner completing just two races so far this season after being parachuted in to replace the struggling Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri.

The Italian squad, who will race under a new identity in 2024, have confirmed Ricciardo as one of their full-time races for 2024, with Yuki Tsunoda retained in the second seat after a late challenge from the impressive Liam Lawson. The Kiwi driver will revert to reserve driver status with Red Bull and AlphaTauri, attending all the Grands Prix in 2024.

AlphaTauri confirm drivers for F1 2024 season

Tsunoda will stay on with AlphaTauri for a fourth consecutive season since entering the sport with the Red Bull junior team for 2021.

His announcement, coming during his home Grand Prix at Suzuka, has seen the former F1 wildchild lavished with praise by Red Bull, who say he has “matured into a fierce racer who has improved race by race, year after year.

“His undoubtful natural talent and constant improvement paired with his ability to integrate into the team are seen as necessary indicators for a further development as a driver.”

Speaking about his confirmation for the team for 2024, Tsunoda said: “I’m so happy to announce that I will be staying with Scuderia AlphaTauri for the 2024 Formula 1 season.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to fight and collaborate with the team and Daniel. Obviously, I’ll push as much as possible for the rest of the season and beyond, to progress as a driver. I’m grateful for Red Bull and Honda, for continuing to support and believe in me, and very happy and thankful to continue the partnership.”

With Ricciardo making his full-time return to F1, the Australian rejoins the team he first raced with in 2012 under their Toro Rosso moniker before being promoted to Red Bull for 2014.

Ricciardo回到一个F1与AlphaTaur驾驶舱i at the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this summer, replacing the struggling Nyck de Vries, and has impressed sufficiently to be retained on a fulltime basis for next year.

“I’m stoked to be driving with Yuki again next year and continuing the journey with Scuderia AlphaTauri” Ricciardo said.

“Following the progress we have already made and the plans for the future, it’s an exciting time for the Team. We are building and it is a great feeling. There is a lot of work to do, but we are heading in the right direction and there is a lot to look forward to. Bring on 2024!”

Peter Bayer: AlphaTauri in a privileged position

With Red Bull having had to make the tough decision of who to put in their cars for 2024 after the return of Ricciardo and the rise of Liam Lawson after his ‘super-sub’ appearances, the team’s CEO Peter Bayer praised Red Bull’s Helmut Marko for helping cultivate such a strong roster of available drivers.

“We are in a privileged position, where we have access to multiple great talents from the Red Bull world” he said.

“This is a credit to the work that Dr. Marko has been doing for many years. Both Daniel and Yuki have not just shown fantastic race craft but are also great global ambassadors for our team and our sport. Liam put himself in the spotlight of F1 in only three races and I am very happy that we can continue to prepare him for his future.”

Outgoing AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost passed the baton as he welcomed the driver line-up prepared for the first season that he won’t oversee, having led the Red Bull sister team since their arrival in the sport almost 20 years ago.

“Next year, the technical regulations remain largely unchanged,” Tost said.

“It was therefore logical to go for continuity in our driver line-up too. I am very pleased with the development that Yuki has shown over the last two and a half years with our team and with Daniel’s great race-winning experience we will have one of the most competitive driver pairings on the grid in 2024.

“Peter (Bayer) and Laurent (Mekies) will have a great duo to start the new season in the right direction. As for Liam, who has impressed everyone in his races so far, he will definitely help the team in his development role as a third driver, and I’m sure he will have a future in Formula One soon.”

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