As we reported earlier today, Redbull has confirmed that Danny Ricciardo will replace Nyck DeVries for the remaining races of the 2023 season.
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Nyck out, Danny In
Nyck DeVries’s form for the early part of the 2023 season has been underwhelming and it seems that Redbull has agreed and pulled the plug on the partnership. Nyck was brought in after a great performance at the 2022 Italian GP, however he has struggled to replicate that form at Redbull’s sister team, Alpha Tauri.
Nyck’s disappointing season has been enough for Redbull to put Ex McLaren driver Danny Ricciardo into the second seat at Alpha Tauri. Redbull has been impressed with Ricciardo’s simulation work behind the scenes. Although it was not the initial plan to have Danny ready to jump in if need be, Redbull has decided that they have seen enough of DeVries and have ran out of patience with Devries’s performances.
Political Move?
Questions will surly be asked regarding the timing of the change, as Nyck was slowing gaining on his more established teammate, and getting to grips with a very poor Alpha Tauri car.
Is this a political play regarding the main Redbull team, are they using this situation to assess Ricciardo for the Redbull seat in 2024? or are they doing it to make Sergio Perez think that’s what they are doing?
With Sergio going through a bad patch in Formula 1, especially in qualifying, if Nyck’s performances have not met the standards that Redbull want and require then it stands to reason the Sergio must be under the same pressure to perform.
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 1 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.
Franz Tost, Alpha Tauri Team Principle